CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA AND OTHER CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A RAISED URINARY STEROID 11-OXYGENATION INDEX

Abstract

SUMMARY Raised values of the 11-oxygenation index (11-OI) were found in 164 children, although it was only possible to record 97 fully. Seventy-four were fully diagnosed as having congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and among the others five had high 11-OI values which fell to normal by the 8th day of life and two gave high values due to methodological interference by 1-oxygenated steroids. Severe diarrhoea was associated with a raised 11-OI in ten boys and this presented difficulty in diagnosis; CAH was considered a possible diagnosis by the referring physician but was finally excluded. Impaired adrenocortical function probably accounted for the raised 11-OI observed in six children who were never considered to have CAH. They had a variety of conditions including congenital heart disease. Normal 11-OI values were found in six patients with adrenocortical tumours. Prednisone and prednisolone administration interfered with the determination.