title: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an in-depth exploration of the complex and potentially life-threatening condition, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAH affects adrenal gland function, resulting in abnormal steroidogenesis caused by a deficiency or complete lack of the enzyme 21-hydroxylase (accounting for 90% of CAH cases). Clinical manifestations include ambiguous genitalia in female newborns and life-threatening salt-wasting crisis in both male and female newborns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses should encourage and assist CAH patients and their parents in taking an active role in the management of their condition. Each stage of growth and development will bring new challenges and questions for patients and their parents.
authors.affiliation: Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, USA. kglatt@cmh.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Glatt
authors.forename: Dawn Lee
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Garzon
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Popovic
mesh_terms: D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase; D014770:Virilism / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase; D006854:Hydrocortisone