Blood pressure in the first year of life in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency: a pilot study.

Abstract

AIMS: Evaluation of blood pressure in the first year of life in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. METHODS: Twenty-four children were included. Retrospective blood pressure values, fludrocortisone dosages, and serum renin, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstenedione levels in the first year of life were evaluated. Blood pressure values were compared to reference values. Correlations between blood pressures and serum renin levels, and the dosage of fludrocortisone were calculated. RESULTS: Mean peak systolic blood pressure values were generally not elevated, most values were around the 50th percentile, except incidentally higher mean peak systolic blood pressure values most below the 95th percentile. No significant correlations between blood pressure and serum renin, androstenedione and 17-OHP levels and fludrocortisone dosage were found. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study in CAH patients, blood pressure values do not seem to be elevated in the first year of life. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate blood pressure in the first year of life in CAH patients in more detail.