AUXOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN ASSESSING TREATMENT OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH CONGENITAL ADRENAL-HYPERPLASIA DUE TO 21-HYDROXYLASE DEFICIENCY

We studied height velocity (HV), bone age progression (DELTABA/DELTACA ), urinary pregnanetriol (PT) and plasma 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH -P) during the first years of life in 12 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency, treated by cortisone acetate. In the well-controlled phase s normal growth rate (SDS between -1 and +1), satisfactory bone age pr ogression (DELTABA/DELTACA less-than-or-equal-to 1) and no clinical si gn of poor treatment were found; in the undertreatment phases enhanced growth rate, rapid bone age progression and, in some instances, signs of virilization were found; in the overtreatment phases, reduced grow th rate was the only sign of poor treatment. Hormonal values were only weakly correlated to therapeutic control. Therefore, growth rate eval uation can represent the best method of monitoring treatment in very y oung patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency.