Does adrenal hyperplasia affect boy and girl babies both?

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an inherited disorder of the adrenal glands that can affect both boys and girls.

When should you suspect congenital adrenal hyperplasia?

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is suspected in females who are virilized at birth, who become virilized postnatally, or who have precocious puberty or premature adrenarche.

What causes CAH and in newborns?

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (also called CAH) is a disorder caused by hormone problems. Hormones are chemicals made by the body. Babies with CAH have trouble making enough of certain hormones and make too much of other hormones. All babies are tested for CAH as part of newborn screening after birth.

What happens if Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is left untreated?

Left untreated, these imbalances lead to other problems, like heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), cardiac arrest, and death. Untreated nonclassic CAH can lead to early puberty and short stature in a male, and permanent male type body changes in a female child, or irregular periods and infertility in a young woman.

How do you confirm CAH?

Physical exam. If the doctor suspects CAH based on a physical exam and symptoms, the next step is to confirm the diagnosis with blood and urine tests. Blood and urine tests. These tests look for abnormal levels of hormones produced by the adrenal glands.

Can CAH go undiagnosed?

All children are affected differently and to different severity by CAH. Some females will also go undiagnosed at birth and will be noted to have CAH at an older age.

Can CAH be diagnosed prenatally?

CAH is diagnosed prenatally by chorionic villus sampling (CVS) at approximately 14 weeks of gestation, or later, at approximately 20 weeks, by amniocentesis (Figure 1).

Is CAH detected at birth?

Classic CAH is usually detected at birth through required newborn screening or when female babies have ambiguous genitalia. CAH may also be identified when male or female babies show signs of severe illness due to low levels of cortisol, aldosterone or both.

What are the signs of adrenal gland problems?

What are the symptoms of adrenal gland disorders?

  • Upper body obesity, round face and neck, and thinning arms and legs.
  • Skin problems, such as acne or reddish-blue streaks on the abdomen or underarm area.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Muscle and bone weakness.
  • Moodiness, irritability, or depression.
  • High blood sugars.

Is NCAH life threatening?

NCAH is usually not life-threatening and is relatively mild compared to classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Some women may have no signs or symptoms of the condition while others may require treatment for hirsutism, infertility or other health problems.

Can CAH be cured?

In people who have CAH , a genetic problem results in a lack of one of the enzymes needed to make these hormones. Although there is no cure, with proper treatment, most people who have congenital adrenal hyperplasia can lead normal lives.

What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia what effects does it have on female fetuses?

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal-recessive disorders caused by a reduced or absent enzymatic activity at one of the stages of adrenal steroid biosynthesis. Prenatal exposure to androgens leads to external genital masculinization of the affected female child.

What is the prognosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)?

The long-term outlook ( prognosis) for people with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is usually good . With lifelong treatment, affected people typically have good health and normal lifespans. [1] However, problems with psychological adjustment are common, particularly in people with genital abnormalities. [4]

Does congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) have a cure?

Treatment for congenital adrenal hyperplasia depends on the type of CAH you have and how severe your symptoms are. There is no cure for CAH, but many people find symptom relief with medications. Doctors prescribe several types of medications, including salt supplements and steroids, to people living with classic CAH.

What is late-onset adrenal hyperplasia?

Late-onset adrenal hyperplasia refers to a congenital endocrine disorder, associated with an enlargement of the adrenal glands, which causes increased aldosterone production and an insufficiency of cortisol . Late-onset adrenal hyperplasia, or non-classical adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH),…

Is adrenal insufficiency hereditary?

Inheritance of Adrenal insufficiency refers to whether the condition is inherited from your parents or “runs” in families. The level of inheritance of a condition depends on how important genetics are to the disease. Strongly genetic diseases are usually inherited, partially genetic diseases are sometimes inherited,…