11-Deoxycortisol

Chemical Pathology

Notes

Please note: this test may only be requested by the endocrine consultants at GHNHSFT

11-Deoxycortisol may be indicated in the diagnosis and monitoring of congenital adrenal hypoplasia (CAH) due to 11ß-hydroxylase deficiency. This is an autosomal recessive disorder causing about 5-8% of cases of CAH and resulting in androgen excess, virilisation and hypertension. The majority of CAH cases are due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency which results in an increase in 17-hydroxyprogesterone.

11-Deoxycortisol may be requested when CAH is suspected on clinical grounds and serum 17-OH progesterone levels are equivocal, however, this test has largely been superseded by urine steroid profiling and is therefore rarely required. Please telephone the duty biochemist with any queries.

Sample requirements

• Samples are best collected early morning.
• In neonates the sample should be taken at least 48 hours post birth.

For adults, blood taken into a 5mL gold top tube (or rust top for the Acute Unit)

For children, blood taken into a 3.5mL rust top tube

For neonates (>48 hours old), blood taken into a 1.0mL plain minicollect tube

Storage/transport

Do not store. Send at ambient temperature to the laboratory on the day of sample collection.

Required information

Relevant clinical details are required when requesting this test.

Turnaround times

Analysis is performed at the Steroid Laboratory at King's College Hospital, with results expected back within 2 weeks.

If results are needed more quickly on clinical grounds then the healthcare professional should contact the duty biochemist before taking the sample.

Reference ranges

Adult reference range: 0.7 – 2.7 nmol/L.

No specific paediatric reference range quoted, however each result will have interpretative comments.

Further information

To learn more visit Patient.co.uk resources on CAH

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Page last updated: 25/04/2023