Cortisol production rate. V. Congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia

Cortisol secretion rates were estimated by the in vivo isotope dilution technique in 16 patients with congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia; the data presented includes those of 2 salt losers previously published. The data were compared with those from age-matched controls. Six patients with the typical pattern of the salt-losing form had low CPR's. A seventh patient, the appearance of whose clinical manifestations was somewhat delayed and who had relatively mild salt loss, had a normal rate. Seven patients with the simple virilizing form had CPR's within the normal range. The eighth and youngest patient, aged 16 days, had a low CPR at a time when moderate transient salt loss was detected. The ninth patient was under ACTH stimulation for one week and had a CPR similar to those of the untreated patients.