Adrenal Hyperplasia? Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), also termed adrenogenital syndrome in older literature, is a common inherited form of adrenal insufficiency. This group of diseases is due to mutations (genetic defects) in the genes coding for several enzymes needed to produce vital adrenal cortex hormones. About 95% of cases of CAH are caused because of lack of the enzyme 21- hydroxylase. When this enzyme is missing or at functioning at low levels, the body cannot make adequate amounts of two vital adrenal steroid hormones: cortisol and aldosterone. This causes disruption in the delicate balance of hormones. Sensing low levels of cortisol, the adrenal, directed by the master hypothalamus and pituitary glands, goes into high gear. Because cortisol production is impeded, the adrenal cortex instead manufactures androgens, or male steroid hormones, an undesired by-product. In short, while one part of the adrenal functions poorly, making inadequate amounts of cortisol and aldosterone, another portion of the gland over-produces androgens. This last feature distinguishes CAH-21-hydroxylase deficiency from another form of adrenal insufficiency, Addison’s disease, since in Addisonian patients, the adrenals are most often completely non-functional. Classical CAH-21-hydroxylase deficiency Lack of both cortisol and aldosterone predispose 3/4 of severely affected individuals with CAH to “adrenal crises” with dehydration and shock, or even death, if not properly diagnosed and treated. Excess adrenal androgen production begins in early fetal life in classical CAH-21 affected infants, and causes abnormal growth of the clitoris in girls and masculinization of other genital-urinary structures. Severely affected girls may be mistaken for boys at birth. Affected boys have no genital malformations at birth, but continued androgen excess causes unusually fast body growth. Inappropriately early puberty leads to premature completion of growth and short adult height. Proper medical treatment with the class of medications called glucocorticoids resets the abnormal balance of hormones, permits near-normal growth and puberty. Another type of medication, mineralocorticoids, preserve salt balance and help prevent adrenal crisis. Proper surgical treatment by an experienced pediatric urologist reconstructs near-normal female genitals. Some surgeons are now able to reconstruct the vagina at the same time as they reduce the size of the clitoris in early infancy, whereas in the past surgery was at least a two-step process, finished in late adolescence. Some families may opt to defer genital surgery. Nonclassical CAH-21-hydroxylase deficiency A milder, non-life-threatening form of CAH becomes manifest in later childhood or even young adult life, and is not characterized by ambiguous genitalia in girls. Rather, these individuals have a partial enzyme deficiency, and thus have better cortisol production, normal aldosterone production, and lower levels of adrenal androgens. They do not suffer “adrenal crisis.” Generally, such individuals seek medical attention because of premature development of pubic hair, irregular menstrual periods, hirsutism (unwanted body hair), or severe acne. About 10-15% of these young women may suffer from fertility problems. Some people affected with nonclassical CAH are not at all symptomatic, and are identified only because of an affected relative. Nonclassical CAH is among the most common genetic disorders, with Ashkenazi Jews having the highest prevalence. In the general population, depending on the ethnic breakdown of a given community, 1-5% may be affected with non-classical CAH. Nonclassical CAH does not progress to classical CAH in affected individuals. The symptoms of non-classical CAH are treatable with very low dose glucocorticoids. This type of treatment may be optional and need not be lifelong. Diagnosis of CAH The diagnosis of CAH has traditionally rested on hormone measurements combined with clinical evaluation, including history and physical examination. Most states in the U.S. as well as several foreign countries now perform a hormonal test for CAH within the first few days of life. These heel-prick blood specimens are obtained at the time when blood is drawn for thyroid tests and a number of other inherited diseases. The rationale for newborn screening is that mainly in boys, who have no outward sign of the disease, the mortality from “adrenal crisis” is high, and this could be entirely prevented by early diagnosis and medical treatment. Since the incidence of classical CAH worldwide is about 1 in 5,000 male births (or 1 in 15,000 total births), this amounts to a substantial number of potentially preventable infant deaths. These screening programs have achieved their goals. Diagnostic methods are continually being refined, both for the hormonal methods, and for the newer genetic typing discussed below. Since the advent of molecular genetic technology, we can now examine the genes of CAH patients and family members. This type of study has application for prenatal testing, neonatal screening, and genetic counseling, as well as confirming diagnosis in questionable cases. Molecular diagnosis is available in several specialized laboratories. Families should receive genetic counseling in conjunction with genetic testing, if they choose this procedure. Just as there are potential inaccuracies in hormonal testing, there are pitfalls in genetic testing. In most cases, except in prenatal diagnosis, people affected with classical and nonclassical forms of CAH can be detected with hormone measurements alone, without genetic testing. Standard CAH Treatment Currently, standard medical treatment consists of giving a glucocorticoid (a cortisol-like steroid medication, e.g., oral hydrocortisone in children, or prednisone or dexamethasone in older patients). In addition, those classical patients who have aldosterone deficiency (“salt-wasters”) need another drug, fludrocortisone (Florinef, which acts like the missing hormone, aldosterone) to be able to retain salt. Infants also receive supplemental salt (as crushed tablets or solutions), whereas older patients with classical forms of CAH eat salty foods. Although many patients are well-managed on these types of medical regimens, it is very difficult to precisely mimic the native adrenal hormone rhythms and achieve perfect hormonal balance. Thus, most CAH patients have intermittent periods of fluctuating control with peaks and valleys in the hormones doctors use to monitor the effectiveness of treatment (specifically, 17- hydroxyprogesterone and androgens). This leads to increases in the steroid medication doses, and sometimes these become excessive. A known complication of high dose glucocorticoids is growth inhibition. Individuals with classical CAH are about 1 to 2 standard deviations below the adult population average in height, meaning they are “short normal.” A particularly important factor in determining final height in CAH patients is the amount of steroids given as treatment in the first 2 years of life. To preserve height potential, children with CAH should be seen frequently by a pediatric endocrinologist who not only measures blood hormone levels, but also carefully assesses height, weight, blood pressure, and an annual x-ray of the wrist (bone age x- ray). Nonclassical CAH patients, if they require medical therapy, are usually effectively treated with low dose hydrocortisone (children), prednisone, or dexamethasone (the latter 2 drugs should mainly be used in older adolescents or adults). Excessive dosing with these medications may inhibit growth in young children, and may cause weight gain and/or hypertension. Girls with nonclassical CAH do not require genital surgery. Newer Treatment Modalities Because of these difficulties in fine-tuning medical treatment of classical, severe CAH with standard therapy, some research centers have designed experimental types of drug therapy. One such example consists of a 4 drug combination, with an androgen blocking agent (flutamide), an inhibitor of aromatase, an enzyme responsible for estrogen formation from androgens (testolactone), low dose hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. Preliminary results after 2 years in a small group of patients are encouraging with respect to more age- appropriate growth and less rapid bone fusion in the experimental group. A longer trial is in progress. Other experimental therapies involve the use of growth hormone with or without depot leuprolide (Lupron) to delay puberty. It will take many years and many more patients in clinical trials to fully understand the safety and effectiveness of experimental therapies, since a large number of patients will have to reach final height to determine whether the short term benefits are sustained. A more radical suggestion for alternative CAH therapy is a surgical one: adrenalectomy. This therapy was in common use in the days before physicians had access to steroid medications. It is now suggested again for selected patients, particularly females with little- to- no enzyme activity and severe virilization that cannot readily be controlled with medications. Adrenalectomy can help avoid high dose glucocorticoids needed to control persistently high adrenal androgens. A major motivation for considering adrenalectomy is that it can now be accomplished by laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is surgery done through one or more 1-inch incisions, with insertion of a fiber-optic light containing a tube with openings for surgical instruments. Laparascopic appendectomy, for instance, has minimal morbidity and low potential for operative complications. Obviously, removing both adrenals leaves the patient in a vulnerable Addisonian state, and one would still have to supplement both cortisol and aldosterone equivalents. Advocates of adrenalectomy point out that replacement hormone doses in Addisonian patients are lower than in CAH patients, and Addisonian children do not suffer from short stature, overweight, masculinization and ill- timed puberty. However, if the patient is unwilling or unable to take his or her medications, it should be understood that there are potential dire, life-threatening consequences. Prenatal therapy Prenatal therapy for CAH has been practiced since 1984. It is still considered somewhat experimental, as dexamethasone is not approved by the US Food & Drug Administration, or by the European regulatory agencies, for this use. In families where one child already has CAH, parents can benefit from genetic counseling explaining how the disease is inherited, and what their options are during subsequent pregnancies. The aim of giving dexamethasone to the pregnant woman at risk for a second CAH- affected child is to reduce secretion of androgens from the female fetus’ adrenal gland, and thus reduce the chance that the baby will be born with male-like genitals. Because adrenal production of androgen begins in the mid-to-late first trimester before prenatal diagnosis is done, the treatment is begun before it is known whether the fetus is male or female, and before it is known whether the child has CAH. Since CAH is a recessive disease, one has a 50% chance of inheriting a mutant gene from each carrier parent. The risk of an affected child is thus 25% (or 50% multiplied by 50%) in each pregnancy. Since only half of the children are female, only 1 in 8 fetuses may benefit from prenatal treatment. Thus, 7 of 8 fetuses would be exposed unnecessarily to steroid treatment via placental passage of the drug given to their mothers. Several hundred children have undergone such prenatal treatment, and cursory surveys show no major ill effects. An expert international panel urges caution in the use of prenatal dexamethasone therapy and strict monitoring of its application by hospital institutional review boards and ethics committees. It is always prudent to consider the long-term potential for unrecognized complications when experimental therapies are used. Present and future Directions For the present, most patients with CAH can be reasonably well-managed with the standard diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Molecular diagnosis does not directly add to patient well-being, but is of use in prenatal diagnosis and other genetic counseling. Looking toward the future, important diagnostic issues are demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of newer methods of newborn screening, including molecular genetic testing. Treatment questions to be resolved will include whether either the newer experimental drug therapies or adrenalectomy improve patient outcome substantially, or whether enzyme replacement by gene therapy is a possible research breakthrough. Much work also remains in assessing outcomes among young women with respect to psychosexual development with and without surgical intervention. Quick Facts About CAH CAH is an inherited disorder that affects the adrenal gland. In its classical form, this disease appears in