Diagnostic accuracy of human chorionic gonadotropins (HCG) stimulation test in XY-disorders of sex development (XY-DSD) presented in Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine diagnostic accuracy of human chorionic gonadotropins stimulation test in differentiating androgen insensitivity syndrome and 5-alpha reductase deficiency, keeping testosterone to dihydrotestosterone ratio as the gold standard. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to December, 2016, and comprised patients aged 01 day to 20 years having XY chromosomes on karyotyping and with a spectrum of phenotypes. Blood samples were collected from each subject for basal serum testosterone, serum luteinizing hormone and serum follicular stimulating hormone level. Human chorionic gonadotropins stimulation test was performed in every subject as per the protocol. Sandwich chemiluminescence immunoassay technique was used to analyse serum samples. Serum dihydrotestosterone level was also detected to determine testosterone and dihydrotestosterone ratio. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. . RESULTS: Of the 104 subjects with a mean age of 1.78}0.95 years,96(92.3%) were diagnosed as cases of androgen insensitivity syndrome on the basis of human chorionic gonadotropins stimulation response level, which was 2-9 times of basal serum testosterone level. Also, 8(7.7%) subjects were diagnosed to have 5-alpha reductase deficiency syndrome. In such subjects, post-human chorionic gonadotropins response level of serum testosterone was more than 10 times of the basal level. CONCLUSIONS: The human chorionic gonadotropins stimulation test was found to be comparable to testosterone-to dihydrotestosterone ratio in differentiating between case of androgen insensitivity syndrome and 5-alpha reductase deficiency.

A Child with Weight Loss and Alacrimation: Triple A Syndrome.

Triple A syndrome or Allgrove's syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder usually manifested with three main clinical features, i.e. achalasia, alacrimation and adrenal inadequacy. Sometimes, it presents with polyneuropathy and neurological complications. Here, we report a case of a 7-year girl presenting with features of weight loss who was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency at the age of 7 years while achalasia was diagnosed at the age of 3 years. First manifestation was achalasia and at that time, alacrimation was also defected. A 7-year XX female child presented at Endocrine Clinic of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) with hyperpigmentation, easy fatigue and weight loss. She had one sibling with same complaints and one brother died at the age of 3 years because of adrenal insufficiency. Her laboratory investigations revealed low cortisol level and high ACTH level, with inadequate response as well as short synacthen test (dynamic function test). This is a first case of Allgrove's syndrome reported in a tertiary hospital setting of Pakistan. Allgrove's syndrome should be considered in patients who report with adrenal insufficiency.

A Child with Ambiguous Genitalia: An Atypical Presentation.

Lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LCAH) (OMIM No. 201710) is the most severe type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Its clinical presentation includes lethal disturbance of adrenal and gonadal steroid synthesis due to impairment in the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. Infants with this disorder experience salt loss, and glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiencies. Replacement therapy has enabled long-term survival. Classic LCAH is relatively common in Japan and Korea but extremely rare in Caucasian populations. An XY male 5-year-old child presented at Endocrine Clinic of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology with ambiguous genitalia and hyperpigmentation. He had family history of CAH. His laboratory investigations revealed normal serum cortisol and 17 Hydroxy (17 OH) progesterone levels with high plasma ACTH and renin levels. He had low aldosterone with inadequate response with hCG stimulation test. This is the first case of non-classic LCAH reported in the Pakistani population. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) gene mutations result in LCAH and the condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an XY child with primary adrenal insufficiency.