Influence of oestrogen in high and low doses on plasma steroid concentrations in girls with tall stature and Turner syndrome.
Plasma DHA, 17-OH-progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, cortisol, oestrone and oestradiol were determined before and on high dose oestrogen treatment (1, 3, 6 and 16 months) given to excessively tall girls to reduce future adult height. Basal values were normal: DHA 16.4 +/- 0.8 nmol/l (n = 90), 17-OH-progesterone 4.9 +/- 0.3 (n = 20), androstenedione 5.6 +/- 0.3 (n = 25), testosterone 2.6 +/- 0.3 (n = 24) and cortisol 395 +/- 20 (n = 90). On treatment, DHA, 17-OH-progesterone and androstenedione decreased to a minimum of 9.3 +/- 1.0 nmol/l (3 months, n = 13), 2.4 +/- 0.3 (6 months, n = 7) and 2.6 +/- 0.2 (6 months, n = 9), respectively, while testosterone remained unchanged, and cortisol increased to a maximum of 825 +/- 99 nmol/l (16 months, n = 23). In 15 girls with XO gonadal dysgenesis, basal DHA was low (11.8 +/- 1.0 nmol/l), and did not significantly change on low dose oestrogen replacement (13.3 +/- 1.4). The cause of the fall in plasma concentrations of androstenedione, DHA and 17-OH-progesterone in treated tall girls is unknown, but it is speculated that it might be related to peripheral conversion in the augmented adipose tissue mass. The rise in plasma cortisol, on the other hand, is probably due to increased transcortin.
D000293:Adolescent; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000728:Androgens; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004958:Estradiol; D009640:Norethindrone