OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of GnRH-agonist (GnRH-a) treatment in women with late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia.DESIGN: Prospective assessment of GnRH-a treatment in six women with documented late-on-set congenital adrenal hyperplasia who were not preselected. Comparisons were made to previous responses in the same patients receiving dexamethasone. Eight age- and weight-matched ovulatory women served as controls.SETTING: Academic medical center.INTERVENTION: Baseline blood determinations before and after i.v. ACTH, before and after 6 months of GnRH-a treatment. Estrogen and progestin replacement was begun in all women after the 3rd month of treatment.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), gonadotropin, and androgen levels before and after GnRH-a treatment. Responses of 17-OHP and androgens to ACTH assessment of hirsutism using a modified Ferriman-Gallwey score.RESULTS: Gonadotropins, estrogen, androgen, and 17-OHP were suppressed with GnRH-a treatment. Levels were similar before and after estrogen and progestin replacement. Responses of 17-OHP after ACTH were blunted but still were elevated compared with responses in controls. Ferriman-Gallwey scores decreased significantly (-8 +/- 1; mean +/- SE). This response was greater than that observed previously with 6 months of dexamethasone (-2 +/- 0.3).CONCLUSIONS: Suppression of the ovary with GnRH-a treatment was beneficial in these patients with late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia. An ovarian influence on the clinical and biochemical findings of the disorder is suggested.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Adolescent