Clinical, hormonal, ovarian, and genetic aspects of 46,XX patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to CYP17A1 defects.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a clinical, biochemical, and molecular evaluation of patients with CYP17A1 defects, including ovarian imaging.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary care center.

PATIENT(S): Sixteen patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to CYP17A1 defects with a median chronological age of 20 years and belonging to 10 unrelated families.

INTERVENTION(S): None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical and biochemical parameters, molecular diagnosis, ovarian imaging, and therapeutic management.

RESULT(S): Seventy-one percent of patients presented with primary amenorrhea, 50% had no breast development, and pubic hair was absent or sparse in all patients; 88% had high blood pressure at diagnosis. Basal LH and P levels were high, and androgen levels were low in all patients. Ultrasound revealed ovarian enlargement in 68.7% and ovarian macrocysts in 62.5% of patients before treatment; three patients had a previous surgical correction of ovarian torsion or rupture. Molecular analysis revealed inactivating CYP17A1 mutations in all patients. The most prevalent mutation was p.W406R, and one patient bore a novel p.G478S/p.I223Nfs*10 compound heterozygous mutation. Treatment with dexamethasone, estrogen, and P resulted in reduction of ovarian volume.

CONCLUSION(S): Amenorrhea, absent/sparse pubic hair, hypertension, and ovarian macrocysts, whichincrease the risk of ovarian torsion, are important elements in the diagnosis of 46,XX patients with CYP17A1 defects. High basal P levels in patients with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism point to the diagnosis of CYP17A1 defects. Fertility can be achieved in these patients with novel reproductive techniques.