21-hydroxylase deficiency differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Mehrian Jafarizade, M.D [2]

Overview

21-hydroxylase deficiency must be differentiated from 11-β hydroxylase deficiency, 17-α hydroxylase deficiency, androgen insensitivity syndrome, 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, cushing syndrome, and adrenal tumor.

Differentiating congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency from other diseases

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency classic type must be differentiated from diseases that cause ambiguous genitalia:

Disease name	Laboratory tests		Important clinical findings
	Increased	Decreased
Classic type of 21-hydroxylase deficiency	17-hydroxyprogesterone Progesterone Androstenedione DHEA	Aldosterone Corticosterone (salt-wasting) Cortisol (simple virilizing)	Ambiguous genitalia in female Virilization in female Salt-wasting Hypotension and hyperkalemia
11-β hydroxylase deficiency	Deoxycorticosterone 11-Deoxy-cortisol 17-hydroxyprogesterone, mild elevation	Cortisol Corticosterone Aldosterone	Ambiguous genitalia in female Hypertension and hypokalemia Virilization
17-α hydroxylase deficiency	Deoxycorticosterone Corticosterone Progesterone	Cortisol Aldosterone	Ambiguous genitalia in male Hypertension Primary amenorrhea Absence of secondary sexual characteristics Minimal body hair
3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase	Dehydroepiandrosterone 17-hydroxypregnenolone Pregnenolone	Cortisol Aldosterone	Vomiting, volume depletion, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia 46-XY infants often show undervirilization, due to a block in testosterone synthesis
Gestational hyperandrogenism	Maternal serum androgen concentrations (usually testosterone and androstenedione) are high If virilization is caused by exogenous hormone administration, the values may be low because the offending hormone is usually a synthetic steroid not measured in assays for testosterone or other androgens		Androgen excess sign and symptoms in mother History of androgen containing medication consumption during pregnancy in mother Virilization in a 46,XX individual with normal female internal anatomy Causes include maternal luteoma or theca-lutein cysts, and placental aromatase enzyme deficiency

21-hydroxylase deficiency Non-classic type must be differentiated from diseases that cause virilization and hirsutism in female:

Disease name	Steroid status	Other laboratory	Important clinical findings
Non-classic type of 21-hydroxylase deficiency	Increased: 17-hydroxyprogesterone Exaggerated Androstenedione, DHEA, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone response to ACTH	Low testosterone levels	No symptoms in infancy and male Virilization in females
11-β hydroxylase deficiency	Increased: DOC 11-Deoxy-Cortisol Decreased: Cortisol Corticosterone Aldosterone	Low testosterone levels	Hypertension and hypokalemia Virilization
3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase	Increased: DHEA 17-hydroxypregnenolone Pregnenolone Decreased: Cortisol Aldosterone	Low testosterone levels	Salt-wasting adrenal crisis in infancy Mild virilization of genetically female infants Undervirilization of genetically male infants, making it the only form of CAH which can cause ambiguous genitalia in both genetic sexes.
Polycystic ovary syndrome	High DHEAS and androstenedione levels	Low testosterone levels	Polycystic ovaries in sonography Obesity PCOS is the most common cause of hirsutism in women No evidence another diagnosis
Adrenal tumors	Variable levels depends on tumor type	Low testosterone level	Older age Rapidly progressive symptoms
Ovarian virilizing tumor	Variable levels depends on tumor type	Testosterone is high	Older age Rapidly progressive symptoms
Cushing's syndrome	Increase cortisol & metabolites Variable other steroids	Variable mineralocorticoid excess	Cushingoid appearance
Hyperprolactinemia	Normal levels of most of steroids	Increased prolactin	Infertility, galactorrhea