Serum 3 alpha-androstanediol glucuronide measurements in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

To determine the value of 3 alpha-androstanediol glucuronide (3-AG) measurements in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, we compared serum 3AG, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and 24-h urinary 17-ketosteroid (17-KS) excretion in 42 female children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, including 27 with the simple virilizing and 15 with the salt-losing form. Their mean age was 74.5 +/- 48.5 months (range, 6-194 months). Twenty-four-hour urinary 17-KS excretion and serum 3-AG, A, T, DHT and 17-OHP levels were measured in the patients. The values were less than the mean + 2 SD of the control group in 63%, 74%, 67%, 69%, 60% and 31% of the patients, respectively. Serum 3-AG levels correlated with 24-h urinary 17-KS excretion (r = 0.66) and plasma A (r = 0.80), 17-OHP (r = 0.56), T (r = 0.79) and DHT (r = 0.62) levels. We conclude that serum 3-AG is a useful metabolic index in the management of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.