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Guideline review
Guideline review: congenital adrenal hyperplasia clinical practice guideline 2018
  1. Philippa Prentice
  1. Paediatric Endocrinology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London WC1N 3JH, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Philippa Prentice, Paediatric Endocrinology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London WC1N 3JH, UK; philippa.prentice1{at}nhs.net

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2019-317573

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    Introduction

    Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) has an incidence of 1:14 000 to 1:18 000 worldwide. It is caused by autosomal recessive gene mutations, encoding enzymes in the adrenal steroidogenesis pathway. The majority, CYP21A1 mutations, result in 21-hydroxylase deficiency, with: inability to synthesise cortisol and aldosterone; diversion of increased steroid precursors, including 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), into androgen production (figure 1). Neonates typically present with virilisation at birth, or in shock, ‘salt-losing crisis’, around days 10–14 of life. Some children present later with simple virilising CAH, often with milder compound heterozygous mutations.

    Figure 1

    Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency: effect on steroidogenesis.

    Information about the guideline

    This guideline focusses solely on CAH caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency. It is written by the US Endocrine Society (2018) and cosponsored by several other organisations, including the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE). The guideline updates previous 2010 recommendations (box 1), particularly focussing on: if and when genital surgery should happen; prenatal treatment; ‘sick day’ rules; mental health and other comorbidities. The article spans from pregnancy to adulthood, but only paediatric guidance is summarised here.

    Box 1

    Links to guideline and other resources

    Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline.

    20181 : https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/103/11/4043/5107759

    20102 : https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/95/9/4133/2835216

    Other useful resources

    • Patient/family support group: www.livingwithcah.com

    • Parent information sheet (UK): https:www.bsped.org.uk/media/1559/congenital-adrenal-hyperplasia-nov-18.pdf

    • Video (UK): how to give emergency intramuscular hydrocortisone https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z4av7h5RH_o

    Key issues addressed

    Diagnosis

    Newborn screening, measuring blood spot 17-OHP

    • Standard practice in the USA and many other countries (although not in the UK), aiming to reduce morbidity and mortality, particularly for male babies, who unlike those with XX karyotype will not show virilisation at birth.

    • First-line testing using immunoassay has high sensitivity but many false positives. Second-line testing should use liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, with greater specificity and sensitivity.

    • Reference ranges for 17-OHP should …

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    Footnotes

    • Funding The author has not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.