描述
Adrenal hyperplasia type 3, also called Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, is caused by a defect in the CYP21A2 gene which codes for Steroid 21-hydroxylase (21-hydroxylase). Steroid 21-hydroxylase catalyzes hydroxylation of 17-hydroxyprogesterone to 11-deoxycortisol in the glucocorticoid pathway from pregnenolone to cortisol. It also catalyzes hydroxylation of progesterone to 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) in the mineralocorticoid pathway on its way from pregnenolone to aldosterone. A defect in this enzyme results in accumulation of 17-Hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone and 17a-Hydroxypregnenolone, androstenedione, and testosterone; decreased levels of cortexolone, deoxycorticosterone, aldosterone and cortisol. Symptoms include salt-wasting crises in infancy due to the lack of aldosterone, like spitting, poor weight gain, vomiting, severe dehydration, and circulatory collapse. The high level of testosterone results in virilization and genital ambiguity of female infants.