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.
Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology and Congenital Disorders, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. hamizuno@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Haruo
H
Mizuno
Yoichiro
Y
Ohro
Yukari
Y
Sugiyama
Tetsuya
T
Ito
Tomonobu
T
Hasegawa
Keiko
K
Homma
Hajime
H
Ueshiba
Makoto
M
Ono
Hajime
H
Togari
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