ESPE Abstracts

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a common disorder of steroid production mainly caused by a mutated CYP21A2 gene, causing 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD). CAH due to 21OHD requires lifelong mineralocorticoid (MC) and glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. But, from the location of the enzyme block in the steroid production and increase of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which stimulates the melanocortin type 2 receptor (MC2R) in the adrenal, excessive adrenal androgen produc...

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...