title: 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol serum levels in neonates and young children: influence of age, gestational age, gender and methodological procedures.
abstract: To determine the influence of age, gestational age, gender and methodological protocol on serum 17OHP and cortisol concentrations. 17OHP in non-extracted (NE) and extracted (E) sera was measured by RIA in 319 full-term (FT) (1 d-5 yr) infants, 38 pre-term (PT) and in 19 neonates with classical CAH at diagnosis. 17OHP (NE- and E-) decreased with age in normal children. The extraction procedure significantly reduced 17OHP by eliminating interfering steroids in children < 1 year. Sexual dimorphism was only observed in NE-17OHP. 17OHP in PT was always higher than in FT up to 2 months of age (p < 0.001). Neither NE- nor E-17OHP in CAH overlapped with those of FT or PT (p < 0.001) allowing to omit the extraction procedure to confirm CAH diagnosis. Cortisol levels were within normal range in neonates with CAH, thus not adding useful information about adrenal function. Chronological and gestational age, gender, and extraction for 17OHP measurement are important factors to know when assessing adrenal function during the first year of life.
authors.affiliation: División de Endocrinología, Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina. mgballerini@cedie.org.ar
authors.forename: María Gabriela
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ballerini
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiesa
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scaglia
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gruñeiro-Papendieck
authors.forename: Juan Jorge
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: María Gabriela
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ropelato
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D000367:Age Factors; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: C002175:progesterone 17 alpha-hydroperoxide; D011374:Progesterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone