Superior discriminating value of ACTH-stimulated serum 21-deoxycortisol in identifying heterozygote carriers for 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) is an autosomal recessive disorder with a high prevalence of asymptomatic heterozygote carriers (HTZ) in the general population, making case detection desirable by routine methodology. HTZ for classic and nonclassic (NC) forms have basal and ACTH-stimulated values of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) that fail to discriminate them from the general population. 21-Deoxycortisol (21DF), an 11-hydroxylated derivative of 17OHP, is an alternative approach to identify 21OHD HTZ. OBJECTIVE: To determine the discriminating value of basal and ACTH-stimulated serum levels of 21DF in comparison with 17OHP in a population of HTZ for 21OHD (n = 60), as well as in NC patients (n = 16) and in genotypically normal control subjects (CS, n = 30), using fourth generation tandem mass spectrometry after HPLC separation (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: Basal 21DF levels were not different between HTZ and CS, but stimulated values were increased in the former and virtually nonresponsive in CS. Only 17·7% of the ACTH-stimulated 21DF levels overlapped with CS, when compared to 46·8% for 17OHP. For 100% specificity, the sensitivities achieved for ACTH-stimulated 21DF, 17OHP and the quotient [(21DF + 17OHP)/F] were 82·3%, 53·2% and 87%, using cut-offs of 40, 300 ng/dl and 46 (unitless), respectively. Similar to 17OHP, ACTH-stimulated 21DF levels did not overlap between HTZ and NC patients. A positive and highly significant correlation (r = 0·846; P < 0·001) was observed between 21DF and 17OHP pairs of values from NC and HTZ. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the superiority of ACTH-stimulated 21DF, when compared to 17OHP, both measured by LC-MS/MS, in identifying carriers for 21OHD. Serum 21DF is a useful tool in genetic counselling to screen carriers among relatives in families with affected subjects, giving support to molecular results.

Hiperplasia adrenal congênita: estudo qualitativo sobre doença e tratamento, dúvidas, angústias e relacionamentos (parte I) / Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a qualitative study on disease and treatment, doubts, anguishes and relationships (part I)

OBJETIVO: Compreender significados e pensamentos de um grupo de pais, pacientes e médicos sobre a hiperplasia adrenal congênita (HAC) e analisar angústias, dúvidas e ansiedades. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados 21 sujeitos: 7 especialistas de cinco instituições do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), 9 familiares e 6 pacientes com HAC, seguindo padrões da pesquisa qualitativa. Neste artigo, apresentaram-se três categorias: "doença e tratamento", "dúvidas e angústias" e "relacionamentos." RESULTADOS: As principais angústias dos pais relacionam-se à indefinição sexual ao nascimento. Para pacientes, a angústia maior relaciona-se ao sentimento de solidão ao lidar com a doença e seu tratamento, enquanto médicos mostram-se inconformados com a passividade dos pais/pacientes. CONCLUSÕES: A passividade de pacientes/familiares nas consultas deve ser avaliada com cautela, pois a dinâmica do ambulatório dos hospitais-escola tem efeito neste comportamento: os médicos não conversam abertamente com os pais, enquanto estes não conversam com seus filhos, que, por sua vez, poupam os pais de mais sofrimento. Constatou-se dificuldade de comunicação entre esses vários sujeitos. Essas observações permitem sugerir que uma medida especial de atenção a esses pacientes deva ser construída.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the meanings/thoughts of a group of parents, patients and physicians regarding congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and to evaluate their anguishes, doubts and anxieties. METHODS: We selected 21 subjects: 7 pediatric endocrinologists from five Brazilian Public Health System institutions, 9 parents and 6 patients with CAH, according to the qualitative research model. Three of the studied categories are presented: "disease and treatment", "doubts and anguishes" and "relationships." RESULTS: Parents' main anguishes relate to the situation of an unnamed sex at birth. A sense of loneliness when dealing with the disease is the major anguish among patients, whereas physicians show hopelessness with the passivity parents and patients. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent submissiveness of patients/parents during consultations must be evaluated cautiously. University Hospitals outpatient clinic dynamics have a direct effect on this behavior: physicians do not talk openly with parents who in turn do not talk with their children, whereas patients chose to protect their parents from additional suffering. Thus, some miscommunication is noticeable among these subjects. These observations suggest that a special mindful measure should be built for these patients.

Hiperplasia adrenal congênita: estudo qualitativo sobre definição e redefinição sexual, cirurgia de dilatação e apoio psicológico (parte II) / Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a qualitative study on sex definition and redesignation dilation surgery and psychological support (part II)

OBJETIVO: Identificar questões relacionadas à definição e redesignação sexual e à cirurgia corretiva em pacientes com hiperplasia adrenal congênita (HAC) e compreender a inserção do psicólogo no seu atendimento. MÉTODOS: Selecionaram-se 21 sujeitos: 7 especialistas de cinco instituições do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), 9 familiares e 6 pacientes com HAC, seguindo-se padrões da pesquisa qualitativa. Neste artigo, analisaram-se três das categorias estudadas: "definição e redesignação sexual", "cirurgia e dilatação" e "psicologia". RESULTADOS: A situação de indefinição sexual é a que mais angustia os pais, enquanto a redesignação inquieta mais os médicos. A sensação de isolamento para lidar com a doença e tratamento foi comum nas pacientes; os procedimentos de dilatação foram sua principal queixa. Os médicos acham que a cirurgia deve ser feita com brevidade para evitar traumas posteriores. CONCLUSÕES: Diante de questões psicológicas complexas, chama a atenção o fato de que nem todo serviço de atendimento especializado conta com a presença de um psicólogo. Os exames de dilatação causam traumas nas pacientes. No grupo estudado, constataram-se dificuldades para lidar com as questões relacionadas à sexualidade.

OBJECTIVE: To identify relevant questions related to sex definition and re-designation and reconstructive surgery in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and to understand the role of the psychologist in providing care for these patients. METHODS: We selected 21 subjects: 7 pediatric endocrinologists from 5 Brazilian Public Health System institutions, 9 parents and 6 patients with CAH, according to a qualitative research model. In this paper, 3 of the studied categories are analyzed: "sex definition and re-designation", "reconstructive surgery/vaginal dilation", and "psychology". RESULTS: Parents' main anguish relates to the situation of an unnamed sex at birth, whereas sex re-designation was distressful to physicians. A sense of loneliness when dealing with the disease and treatment was a common anguish among patients; dilation procedures were the major complaint. In general, physicians recommend that genital reconstructive surgery be performed early on to avoid future trauma. CONCLUSIONS: In such a complex scenario, it is remarkable that not all the reference service staff have a psychologist on duty. Difficulties to deal with questions involving sexuality were evident and dilation procedures are an additional source of trauma for these patients.

[Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a qualitative study on disease and treatment, doubts, anguishes and relationships (part I)]. / Hiperplasia adrenal congênita: estudo qualitativo sobre doença e tratamento, dúvidas, angústias e relacionamentos (parte I).

OBJECTIVE: To understand the meanings/thoughts of a group of parents, patients and physicians regarding congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and to evaluate their anguishes, doubts and anxieties. METHODS: We selected 21 subjects: 7 pediatric endocrinologists from five Brazilian Public Health System institutions, 9 parents and 6 patients with CAH, according to the qualitative research model. Three of the studied categories are presented: 'disease and treatment', 'doubts and anguishes' and 'relationships.' RESULTS: Parents' main anguishes relate to the situation of an unnamed sex at birth. A sense of loneliness when dealing with the disease is the major anguish among patients, whereas physicians show hopelessness with the passivity parents and patients. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent submissiveness of patients/parents during consultations must be evaluated cautiously. University Hospitals outpatient clinic dynamics have a direct effect on this behavior: physicians do not talk openly with parents who in turn do not talk with their children, whereas patients chose to protect their parents from additional suffering. Thus, some miscommunication is noticeable among these subjects. These observations suggest that a special mindful measure should be built for these patients.

[Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a qualitative study on sex definition and redesignation dilation surgery and psychological support (part II)]. / Hiperplasia adrenal congênita: estudo qualitativo sobre definição e redefinição sexual, cirurgia de dilatação e apoio psicológico (parte II).

OBJECTIVE: To identify relevant questions related to sex definition and re-designation and reconstructive surgery in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and to understand the role of the psychologist in providing care for these patients. METHODS: We selected 21 subjects: 7 pediatric endocrinologists from 5 Brazilian Public Health System institutions, 9 parents and 6 patients with CAH, according to a qualitative research model. In this paper, 3 of the studied categories are analyzed: 'sex definition and re-designation', 'reconstructive surgery/vaginal dilation', and 'psychology'. RESULTS: Parents' main anguish relates to the situation of an unnamed sex at birth, whereas sex re-designation was distressful to physicians. A sense of loneliness when dealing with the disease and treatment was a common anguish among patients; dilation procedures were the major complaint. In general, physicians recommend that genital reconstructive surgery be performed early on to avoid future trauma. CONCLUSIONS: In such a complex scenario, it is remarkable that not all the reference service staff have a psychologist on duty. Difficulties to deal with questions involving sexuality were evident and dilation procedures are an additional source of trauma for these patients.