Transient hyper-17-OHPnemia unrelated to cross-reactions with residual fetal adrenal cortex products.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the pathogenesis of transient hyper-17alpha-hydroxyprogesteronemia, we initiated a laboratory investigation in a pre-term infant with persistently high serum 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) until 2 months of age.


METHODS
Serum 17-OHP level was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay, and gene analysis of CYP21A2 (21-hydroxylase) was performed.


RESULTS
Serum 17-OHP level on the 29th day of life was 25.4 ng/ml, and the urinary steroid profile showed low pregnanetriolone. Gene analysis of 21-hydroxylase disclosed no mutation, and 17-OHP normalized by 3 months of age without specific treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Transient elevations in 17-OHP, which do not appear related to cross-reactions with products of a residual fetal adrenal cortex, may occur in the first few months of life.
Mizuno
Haruo
H
Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology and Congenital Disorders, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. hamizuno@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Ohro
Yoichiro
Y
Sugiyama
Yukari
Y
Ito
Tetsuya
T
Hasegawa
Tomonobu
T
Homma
Keiko
K
Ueshiba
Hajime
H
Ono
Makoto
M
Togari
Hajime
H
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood*; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011279:Pregnanetriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
D011279:Pregnanetriol; C009030:pregnanetriolone; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase