Correlation of blood-spot 17-hydroxyprogesterone daily profiles and urinary steroid profiles in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the value of blood-spot 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) daily profiles and urinary steroid excretion in untreated and treated patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).


METHODS
Ten patients with CAH were investigated during steroid replacement therapy (Group 1), and 11 patients were investigated without treatment (Group 2).


METHODS
Capillary blood samples were collected for measurement of blood-spot 17-OHP values by non-chromatographic radioimmunoassay. Steroid profiles of 24-h urine samples were analyzed by gas chromatography.


RESULTS
There was a close correlation between the individual daily means of blood-spot 17-OHP measurements and the pregnanetriol/ tetrahydrocortisone ratio in both groups of patients (Group 2: r=0.839, p<0.001; Group 1: r=0.686, p<0.001). Almost the same correlation was found between the blood-spot 17-OHP value and the sum of three 17-hydroxyprogesterone metabolites/the sum of three cortisol/cortisone metabolites ratio (Group 2: r=0.918, p<0.001; Group 1: r=0.741, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Blood-spot 17-OHP measurements and 24-h urinary steroid profile have the same impact in identification and monitoring therapy of children with CAH.
Erhardt
E
E
Department of Pediatrics, University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Sólyom
J
J
Homoki
J
J
Juricskay
S
S
Soltész
G
G
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood*; D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006801:Humans; D013256:Steroids / Q000652:urine*
D013256:Steroids; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone