title: Serum adrenal steroid concentrations in premature infants.
abstract: To evaluate serum adrenal steroid concentrations in preterm infants, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, androstenedione, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, and aldosterone values were determined in 9 sick and 13 healthy premature infants. Serum steroid concentrations were compared to previously reported data from healthy full-term infants. 17-OHP, 11-deoxycortisol, and aldosterone values were higher in sick preterm infants than in healthy preterm infants. Compared to healthy full-term infants, the premature infants-had significantly higher 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 17-OHP, and DHEA sulfate concentrations. Cortisol values were not different between the sick and healthy preterm infants and were similar to full-term values. Aldosterone values were also similar between the premature and the full-term infants. The findings of elevated steroid precursors in preterm infants and low cortisol levels in stressed sick preterm infants may indicate a relative immaturity of adrenal enzyme activity and inadequate adrenal reserve for stress.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes and Neonatology Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moshang
mesh_terms: D006907:17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone / Q000097:blood; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone / Q000097:blood; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D003350:Cortodoxone / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D013256:Steroids; D006907:17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000450:Aldosterone; D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D003350:Cortodoxone; D006854:Hydrocortisone