COMBINED MINERALCORTICOID - CORTISONE VERSUS CORTISONE TREATMENT IN CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYTERPLASIA

Growth was studied in 13 patients with the salt losing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Present height for chronological age and for bone age at mean age 7.2 years (range 1.1 – 16.4 years) is −0.12 SD ± 1.16 and −0.16 SD ± 0.62. In seven patients treated with cortisone acetate (c) and NaCl alone 9 fluorohydrocortisone (F) was instituted. C doses could then be reduced to mean 21 ± 5 from 28 ± 9 mg/m2 and day with equal or better control as measured by urinary pregnanetriol excretion. These patients also showed a better growth with a mean height gain of 0.48 SD-scores after 1.5 years of treatment. Bone age advancement during this period was 0.9 ± 0.5 years/year. The increased height velocity and good metabolid control during combined F and C treatment suggests that this regime is superior to the conventional longterm treatment with C and NaCl alone. Values are means ± standard deviation.