Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0948265 (metabolic syndrome)
 24,271 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Prenatal treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) with dexamethasone to minimize the genital virilization of external genitalia of affected girls has been in use since the mid-1980s. The positive effect of reducing virilization is now established. However, experimental data from animal studies and observations on adverse medical events in human newborns have raised concerns about the long-term safety of the treatment. Most animal studies on prenatal treatment with synthetic glucocorticoids have been designed to mimic treatment for lung maturation in preterm infants. The primary focus has been on a possible impact on fetal programming and the development of the metabolic syndrome with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Altered reactivity to stress as a function of differences in reactivity of the HPA axis and glucocorticoid receptor function have been assayed. Effects on cognition, especially memory, have been observed. In children at risk for CAH and treated prenatally with dexamethasone, no overall effects on full-scale IQ have been observed, but a negative effect on verbal working memory has been reported. Contradictory effects on social behavior with respect to shyness and inhibition have been discussed. There is an urgent need for in-depth studies of long-term outcome in prenatal treatment of CAH regarding both maternal side effects and possible negative metabolic as well as cognitive and behavioral effects in the growing fetus and the child in her development into adulthood.
 ...
PMID:Long-term outcome of prenatal treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. 1849 35

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a family of autosomal recessive disorders. 21-Hydroxylase deficiency, in which there are mutations in CYP21A2 (the gene encoding the adrenal 21-hydroxylase enzyme), is the most common form (90%) of CAH. In classic CAH there is impaired cortisol production with diagnostic increased levels of 17-OH progesterone. Excess androgen production results in virilization and in the newborn female may cause development of ambiguous external genitalia. Three-fourths of patients with classic CAH also have aldosterone insufficiency, which can result in salt-wasting; in infancy this manifests as shock, hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. CAH has a reported incidence of 1:10,000-1:20,000 births although there is an increased prevalence in certain ethnic groups. Nonclassic CAH (NCCAH) is a less severe form of the disorder, in which there is 20-50% of 21-hydroxylase enzyme activity (vs. 0-5% in classic CAH) and no salt wasting. The degree of symptoms related to androgen excess is variable and may be progressive with age, although some individuals are asymptomatic. NCCAH has an incidence of 1:1000-1:2000 births (0.1-0.2% prevalence) in the White population; an even higher prevalence is noted in certain ethnic groups such as Ashkenazi Jews (1-2%). As many as two-thirds of persons with NCCAH are compound heterozygotes and carry a severe and mild mutation on different alleles. This paper discusses the genetics of NCCAH, along with its variable phenotypic expression, and reviews the clinical course in untreated patients, which includes rapid early childhood growth, advanced skeletal age, premature adrenarche, acne, impaired reproductive function in both sexes and hirsutism as well as menstrual disorders in females. Finally, it addresses treatment with glucocorticoids vs. non treatment and other therapies, particularly with respect to long term issues such as adult metabolic disease including insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and bone mineral density.
 ...
PMID:Recommendations for treatment of nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH): an update. 2218 44