Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT2814

Introduction: In congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21 hydroxylase deficiency, steroid treatment at supraphysiologic doses is recommended. However, the effects of steroids on food intake and energy homeostasis have been previously demonstrated. Moreover, many patients with CAH have increased body fat and insulin resistance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the supraphysiologic dose of hydrocortisone on adropin, orexin, and ghrelin levels, which are peptides associated with food intake regulation and insulin resistance in patients with CAH.

Material and methods: Thirty-five patients with CAH receiving hydrocortisone treatment for at least three years and attending regular follow-ups and 35 age- and body-mass index-matched healthy children for the control group were included in the study. Anthropometric measurements of the patients were recorded. Glucose, insulin, serum lipid profiles, adropin, orexin, and ghrelin levels were compared between the two groups.

Results: Seven patients (20%) in the patient group had a body mass index (BMI) above +2 SDS. Adropin (208.37±186.03 ng/l vs. 143.97±50.31 ng/l, P: 0.049), ghrelin (1.59±1.32 ng/ml vs. 1.10±0.41 ng/ml, P: 0.036), and orexin (234.25±220.25 pg/ml vs. 123.83±50.02 pg/ml, P: 0.005), were higher in the patient group compared to the control group. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels were also increased in the patient group.

Conclusion: Serum ghrelin, orexin, and adropin levels have been found to be elevated in patients with CAH treated with supraphysiologic doses. The findings of this study suggest that these changes may play a role in the pathophysiology of increased body fat and food intake in these patients.