Balance is often elusive when treating with GCs alone3,4
Based on 2 large retrospective studies totaling 443 patients with CAH. Data included children and adults. “Poorly managed” was defined as elevated androgen levels and oversuppressed androgen levels.5,6
Based on a study of 244 patients with a median age of 33 years.4
In a multicenter study, the most common comorbidities in patients with CAH taking GCs included4:
- Osteoporosis/osteopenia (59%)
- Hyperlipidemia (23%)
- Type 2 diabetes/hyperinsulinemia (22%)
- Hypertension (14%)
- Early puberty
- Growth issues
- Fertility problems
- TARTs/OARTs
- Acne
- Hirsutism
- Anxiety
- Obesity
- Growth issues
- Hypertension
- Insulin resistance
- Osteopenia and osteoporosis
- Cognitive impairment
- Mood disorders
Symptoms of androgen excess and high-dose GC comorbidities can affect patients’ quality of life.5
Cortisol deficiency in CAH leads to androgen excess3,11
Cortisol deficiency leads to3,11:
CRF
secretionCRF1
receptor activationACTH
releaseadrenal androgens
95% of CAH cases are caused by 21-OH deficiency.10,12
Because of the 21-OH deficiency, the adrenal glands cannot make enough cortisol and, in many cases, aldosterone. Instead, they make excess androgens.3
REFERENCES
- Merke DP, Auchus RJ. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(13):1248-1261. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1909786
- Prete A, Auchus RJ, Ross RJ. Clinical advances in the pharmacotherapy of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Eur J Endocrinol. 2021;186(1):R1-R14. doi:10.1530/EJE-21-0794
- Mallappa A, Merke DP. Management challenges and therapeutic advances in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Nat Rev. 2022;18(6):337-352. doi:10.1038/s41574-022-00655-w
- Righi B, Ali SR, Bryce J, et al. Long-term cardiometabolic morbidity in young adults with classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Endocrine. 2023;80(3):630-638. doi:10.1007/s12020-023-03330-w
- Arlt W, Willis DS, Wild SH, et al. Health status of adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a cohort study of 2023 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95(11):5110-5121. doi:10.1210/jc.2010-0917
- Finkielstain GP, Kim MS, Sinaii N, et al. Clinical characteristics of a cohort of 244 patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97(12):4429-4438. doi:10.1210/jc.2012-2102
- Hindmarsh PC, Geertsma K. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Comprehensive Guide. Elsevier/Academic Press; 2017.
- Sarafoglou K, Merke DP, Reisch N, Claahsen-van der Grinten H, Falhammar H, Auchus RJ. Interpretation of steroid biomarkers in 21-hydroxylase deficiency and their use in disease management. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023;108(9):2154-2175. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgad134
- Koren R, Koren S, Khashper A, Benbassat C, Pekar-Zlotin M, Vaknin Z. Ovarian adrenal rest tumor in congenital adrenal hyperplasia: is medical treatment the first line option? Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2021;65(6):841-884. doi:10.20945/2359-3997000000415
- Speiser PW, Arlt W, Auchus RJ, et al. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(11):4043-4088. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-01865
- Schröder MAM, Claahsen-van der Grinten HL. Novel treatments for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022;23(3):631-645. doi:10.1007/s11154-022-09717-w
- Auer MK, Nordenström A, Lajic S, Reisch N. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Lancet. 2023;401(10372):227-244. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01330-7