Case Report: Infant With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and 47,XXY

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a group of autosomal recessive disorders in which enzymes in the cortisol biosynthesis pathways are disrupted by gene mutations. The most common form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency, is characterized by decreased cortisol and aldosterone synthesis and excessive androgen production. Adult height is often compromised in affected patients. Intellectual capability remains intact in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency, based on previous studies. 47,XXY (KS) is a sex chromosomal aneuploidy that manifests with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, tall stature, and variable intellectual and behavioral dysfunction. This clinical report describes an infant with 21-hydroxylase deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia and 47,XXY. The results of his neurodevelopmental, endocrine, neurological, and physical therapy evaluations during his first 22 months are included and were normal. This is the first published case investigating the neurodevelopmental profile of a patient with the combination of these two genetic disorders.

Disorders of Sex Development of Adrenal Origin

Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) are anomalies occurring in the process of fetal sexual differentiation that result in a discordance between the chromosomal sex and the sex of the gonads and/or the internal and/or external genitalia. Congenital disorders affecting adrenal function may be associated with DSD in both 46,XX and 46,XY individuals, but the pathogenic mechanisms differ. While in 46,XX cases, the adrenal steroidogenic disorder is responsible for the genital anomalies, in 46,XY patients DSD results from the associated testicular dysfunction. Primary adrenal insufficiency, characterized by a reduction in cortisol secretion and overproduction of ACTH, is the rule. In addition, patients may exhibit aldosterone deficiency leading to salt-wasting crises that may be life-threatening. The trophic effect of ACTH provokes congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Adrenal steroidogenic defects leading to 46,XX DSD are 21-hydroxylase deficiency, by far the most prevalent, and 11β-hydroxylase deficiency. Lipoid Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to StAR defects, and cytochrome P450scc and P450c17 deficiencies cause DSD in 46,XY newborns. Mutations in SF1 may also result in combined adrenal and testicular failure leading to DSD in 46,XY individuals. Finally, impaired activities of 3βHSD2 or POR may lead to DSD in both 46,XX and 46,XY individuals. The pathophysiology, clinical presentation and management of the above-mentioned disorders are critically reviewed, with a special focus on the latest biomarkers and therapeutic development.

Late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia in pregnancy

Congenital adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a rare disorder to manage in pregnancy as CAH is known to cause infertility. Late onset CAH is more so with 21-hydroxylase deficiency being the most common enzyme deficiency for the same. The mainstay of management in pregnancy is multidisciplinary team management with a consultant Obstetrician and Medical Endocrinologist, steroid treatment and avoiding virilisation of the female patient in early pregnancy is important continuation of dexamethasone is controversial with conflicting evidence and also precipitating or worsening hyperemesis in pregnancy.

Characterization of mutations causing steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency in Brazilian and Portuguese populations

Deficiency of Cytochrome P450 Steroid 21-hydroxylase (CYP21A2) represents 90% of cases in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an autosomal recessive disease caused by defects in cortisol biosynthesis. Computational prediction along with functional studies are often the only way to classify variants to understand the links to disease-causing effects. Here we investigated the pathogenicity of uncharacterized variants in the CYP21A2 gene reported in the Brazilian and Portuguese populations. Physicochemical alterations, residue conservation, and effect on protein structure were accessed by computational analysis. The enzymatic performance was obtained by functional assay with the wild-type and mutant CYP21A2 proteins expressed in HEK293 cells. Computational analysis showed that p.W202R, p.E352V, and p.R484L have severely impaired the protein structure, while p.P35L, p.L199P, and p.P433L have moderate effects. The p.W202R, p.E352V, p.P433L, and p.R484L variants showed residual 21OH activity consistent with the simple virilizing phenotype. The p.P35L and p.L199P variants showed partial 21OH efficiency associated with the non-classical phenotype. Additionally, p.W202R, p.E352V and p.R484L also modified the protein expression level. We have determined how the selected CYP21A2 gene mutations affect the 21OH activity through structural and activity alteration contributing to the future diagnosis and management of 21OH deficiency.

Compliance Issues in Managing 21 Hydroxylase Deficiency and their Short/Long-Term Consequences

Objective: To report a case of untreated classic 21 hydroxylase (OH) deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in a transgender patient resulting in pulmonary embolisms (PEs) and bilateral adrenal masses. Methods: A 36-year-old male (birth sex: female) presenting with bilateral PEs in the setting of long-standing, untreated classic 21OH CAH was also found to have bilateral adrenal masses (unconfirmed myelolipomas). Results: Further history revealed a known diagnosis of CAH. The patient had been treated with glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement in childhood but stopped taking these medications against medical advice. During his hospital admission, he was noted to have elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone, low cortisol with elevated ACTH levels, and male-level testosterone measurements. CT of the abdomen/ pelvis revealed a 23 cm mass in the left renal fossa and a 2.5 cm mass in the right renal fossa consistent with bilateral adrenal myelolipomas. The patient attended follow-up in clinic, but declined any further hormonal treatment as he identified as male and felt further treatment was unnecessary. Conclusion: This case demonstrated the unique long-term effects of untreated classic CAH due to 21OH deficiency, including bilateral adrenal myelolipoma, adrenal compensation to the point of producing male-level androgens, and possibly PEs. Treatment with hydrocortisone was recommended to suppress ACTH and it was planned that the patient would eventually start on testosterone (although this would have been complicated by his bilateral PEs). Potential aetiologies for the PEs included vascular compression of the renal artery (which could explain the elevated EPO/erythrocytosis contributing to hypercoagulability) or the renal vein by the adrenal mass.

24-Hour Profiles of 11-Oxygenated C19 Steroids and Δ5-Steroid Sulfates during Oral and Continuous Subcutaneous Glucocorticoids in 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency

BackgroundOptimal management of androgen excess in 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) remains challenging. 11-oxygenated-C19 steroids (11-oxyandrogens) have emerged as promising biomarkers of disease control, but data regarding their response to treatment are lacking.ObjectiveTo compare the dynamic response of a broad set of steroids to both conventional oral glucocorticoids (OG) and circadian cortisol replacement via continuous subcutaneous hydrocortisone infusion (CSHI) in patients with 21OHD based on 24-hour serial sampling.Participants and MethodsWe studied 8 adults (5 women), ages 19-43 years, with poorly controlled classic 21OHD who participated in a single-center open-label phase I–II study comparing OG with CSHI. We used mass spectrometry to measure 15 steroids (including 11-oxyandrogens and Δ5 steroid sulfates) in serum samples obtained every 2 h for 24 h after 3 months of stable OG, and 6 months into ongoing CSHI.ResultsIn response to OG therapy, androstenedione, testosterone (T), and their four 11-oxyandrogen metabolites:11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, 11-ketoandrostenedione, 11β-hydroxytestosterone and 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) demonstrated a delayed decline in serum concentrations, and they achieved a nadir between 0100-0300. Unlike DHEAS, which had little diurnal variation, pregnenolone sulfate (PregS) and 17-hydoxypregnenolone sulfate peaked in early morning and declined progressively throughout the day. CSHI dampened the early ACTH and androgen rise, allowing the ACTH-driven adrenal steroids to return closer to baseline before mid-day. 11KT concentrations displayed the most consistent difference between OG and CSHI across all time segments. While T was lowered by CSHI as compared with OG in women, T increased in men, suggesting an improvement of the testicular function in parallel with 21OHD control in men.Conclusion11-oxyandrogens and PregS could serve as biomarkers of disease control in 21OHD. The development of normative data for these promising novel biomarkers must consider their diurnal variability.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11β-hydroxylase deficiency: late diagnosis and gender reassignment in a two-year-old child

11β-hydroxylase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder due to impaired steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex caused by pathogenic mutations in the CYP11B1 gene. The main clinical manifestations are determined by a deficiency of cortisol, ACTH hyperproduction, excessive androgens secretion and the accumulation of 11-deoxycorticosterone, which leads to the development of arterial hypertension. In the diagnostic search, it is important to take into account the ethnicity of the patient, since the frequency of the disease and the prevalence of mutations differ between ethnic groups. The article presents a clinical case of 11β-hydroxylase deficiency as the result of compound heterozygous mutations in the CYP11B1 gene in a patient of Turkic origin. This case shows the clinical manifestations and the development of complications of 11β-hydroxylase deficiency, the stages of differential diagnosis of patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Optimizing the timing of highest hydrocortisone dose in children and adolescents with 21-hydroxylase deficiency

Context Hydrocortisone treatment of young patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) is given thrice-daily, but there is debate about the optimal timing of highest hydrocortisone dose, either mimicking the physiological diurnal rhythm (morning), or optimally suppressing androgen activity (evening). Objective We aimed to compare two standard hydrocortisone timing strategies, either highest dosage in the morning or evening, with respect to hormonal status throughout the day, nocturnal blood pressure, sleep and activity scores. Design and setting Six-week cross-over study. Patients Thirty-nine patients (4-19 years) with 21OHD. Interventions Patients were treated for three weeks with highest hydrocortisone dose in the morning, followed by three weeks with highest dose in the evening (n=21), or vice-versa (n=18). Androstenedione (A4) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) levels were quantified in saliva collected at 5.00am; 7.00am; 3.00pm; and 11.00pm during the last two days of each treatment period. Main outcome measure Comparison of saliva 17OHP and A4 levels between two treatment strategies. Results Administration of the highest dose in the evening resulted in significantly lower 17OHP levels at 5.00am, whereas the highest dose in the morning resulted in significantly lower 17OHP and A4 levels in the afternoon. The two treatment dose regimens were comparable with respect to averaged daily hormone levels, nocturnal blood pressure, and activity- and sleep scores. Conclusion No clear benefit for either treatment schedule was established. Given the variation in individual responses we recommend to individually optimize dose distribution and monitoring disease control at multiple timepoints.

Crinecerfont Lowers Elevated Hormone Markers in Adults with 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Context Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) is characterized by impaired cortisol synthesis and excess androgen production. Corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRF1R) antagonism may decrease adrenal androgen production. Objective To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of crinecerfont (NBI-74788), a selective CRF1R antagonist, in 21OHD. Design Open-label, phase 2 study, with sequential cohort design (NCT03525886). Setting United States (6 centers). Participants Men and women, 18-50 years, with 21OHD. Interventions Four crinecerfont regimens, each administered orally for 14 consecutive days: 50 or 100 mg oncedaily at bedtime (Cohorts 1 and 2, respectively); 100 mg once-daily in the evening (Cohort 3); 100 mg twice-daily (BID, Cohort 4). Participants could enroll in >1 cohort. Main Outcomes Changes from baseline to Day 14 in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), 17hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), androstenedione, and testosterone. Results Eighteen participants (11 women, 7 men) were enrolled: Cohort 1 (n=8), Cohort 2 (n=7), Cohort 3 (n=8), Cohort 4 (n=8). Mean age was 31 years; 94% were white. Median percent reductions were >60% for ACTH (-66%), 17OHP (64%), and androstenedione (64%) with crinecerfont 100 mg BID. In female participants, 73% (8/11) had ≥50% reduction in testosterone levels; male participants had median 26-65% decreases in androstenedione/testosterone ratios. Conclusions Crinecerfont treatment for 14 days lowered ACTH and afforded clinically meaningful reductions of elevated 17OHP, androstenedione, testosterone (women), or androstenedione/testosterone ratio (men) in adults with 21OHD. Longer-term studies are required to evaluate the effects of crinecerfont on clinical endpoints of disordered steroidogenesis and glucocorticoid exposure in patients with 21OHD.