Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency: A paradigm for prenatal diagnosis and treatment

Saroj Nimkarn, Maria I. New

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

21-Hydroxylase deficiency is the most common cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an inherited disorder of steroidogenesis. In its severe form, CAH causes genital ambiguity in females. Molecular genetic analysis of fetal DNA obtained by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling is used to diagnose steroid 21-OHD deficiency in utero. Large ongoing studies show that appropriate prenatal treatment of pregnant mothers with dexamethasone is effective and safe for both the fetus and the mother. It reduces ambiguous genitalia in the female affected fetus and thus avoids unnecessary genitoplasty in the newborn female.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSkeletal Biology and Medicine
PublisherBlackwell Publishing Inc.
Pages5-11
Number of pages7
ISBN (Print)9781573317856
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2010

Publication series

NameAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume1192
ISSN (Print)0077-8923
ISSN (Electronic)1749-6632

Keywords

  • 21-hydroxylase deficiency
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  • Prenatal care
  • Prenatal diagnosis
  • Steroid hydroxylases

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