Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Both cortisol and other adrenal hormones are well known to affect brain structure and function throughout development. Due to destruction of the adrenal cortex, patients with Autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) lack production of adrenal hormones and therefore receive lifelong replacement of cortisol and aldosterone, and, for some female patients dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). However, replicating the natural rhythm of secretion is difficult, and patients are o...

In foetuses at risk of virilising CAH, prenatal treatment can be offered by administration of dexamethasone (DEX) via the mother in order to prevent genital malformations. Accumulating evidence from animal studies and epidemiological data raise concerns regarding the long term consequences of excess glucocorticoids on the developing foetus. The European study PREDEX is organized as an open, controlled, non-randomised, multicentre trial. The impact of DEX on the general well-be...

The LH receptor (LHR) is a 7-transmembrane domain G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) mainly expressed in the gonads with a major role in the development and maintenance of gonadal steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. Its ligand LH, secreted by the pituitary gland, binds to the extracellular domain of LHR triggering a conformational change in the transmembrane domain and leading to activation of intracellular signalling cascades.As a member of the GPCR famil...

BackgroundPrenatal dexamethasone treatment (Pdex) has been used since the 1980s to prevent virilization in female offspring suspected to have congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). However, due to lack of strong evidence for its best practice as well as limited data regarding longterm adverse effects, use of dex is highly controversial. This study reveals the current medical practice regarding Pdex in female fetuses at risk of CAH due to 21hydroxylase def...