ESPE Abstracts

Background: Adrenarche describes the developmental event of the human adrenal cortex when the zona reticularis increases the synthesis of C19 steroids (DHEA/-S) markedly at around 6-8 years of age. Early appearance of this event is called premature adrenarche (PA) and has been associated with adverse outcomes including polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome. Recently novel biosynthetic pathways of androgen production have been revealed, but their rol...

Steroidogenic enzyme expression in the fetal adrenal and the placenta hints at the production and metabolism of adrenal-derived 11-oxy androgens (11OxyAs) in the fetal-placental unit. Thus, 11OxyAs are present in placental tissue, fetal cord blood and neonatal serum, and could have a particular role during fetal development. The metabolism of the 11OxyAs in the fetal unit, therefore, presents as a focal point of investigation. Adrenal androgens are primarily metabolized by the...

Introduction: Steroid profiling in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is used to monitor the balance between androgen and cortisol metabolites and to decide on the optimal glucocorticoid dosage. Twenty-four hour collection is the gold standard for measurement of steroid metabolites in urine, because steroid production follows a circadian rhythm and is influenced by short-term stress and steroid drugs. For some children, e.g. those who were diap...