DOES PRIMARY SALT WASTING OCCUR IN 11-BETA-HYDROXYLASE DEFICIENCY

Renal salt wasting secondary to 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency (11-bet a-OHD) has been described in a few patients. This report describes an infant with 11-beta-OHD initially thought to be in adrenal crisis with renal salt wasting. Subsequently the sodium loss was found to be due to a secretory diarrhea, and this prompted us to critically review the literature of the previous case reports. in none has the entity of re nal salt wasting secondary to 11-beta-OHD been unequivocally confirmed . The entity should remain in doubt until proven by appropriate studie s in the future.