COrticosteroid in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Overview

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) results from a deficiency of a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of cortisol, mainly 21-hydroxylase, resulting in its classic form a neonatal salt loss syndrome and / or a virilization syndrome in girls. The treatment of the disorder in adulthood involves administering steroidal compounds with the aim to substitute the gluco- and mineralocorticoid deficit on the one hand, and effectively curb the adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal androgen pathway in girls . The terms of glucocorticoid treatment are not clearly codified and are based on several steroidal compounds and various protocols. The advantages in terms of adrenal suppression and disadvantages - including bone and metabolic - different treatments have not been clearly established in the literature. The main objective of this study is to compare among adults with HCS in its classical form the impact on hormonal parameters adrenal suppression glucocorticoid of 3 types of treatment administered to equivalent dose and according to the usual procedures. The secondary objective is to compare in the same patients the impact of different drugs and treatments on several metabolic bone parameters. The study will include 40 adult patients bearing a HCS in its classical form and will include 3 treatment sequences of eight weeks each, during which they will be administered sequentially in random order at random and according to the known equivalences hydrocortisone, prednisone (CORTANCYL) and dexamethasone (DECTANCYL). Randomization will be stratified based on previous DMARDs in the investigation that may be different for different patients, knowing that France hydrocortisone and dexamethasone are used mainly for the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The judging criteria will be: i) the criteria of adrenal hormone suppression: plasma levels of testosterone, androstenedione, 17 OHP, ACTH and diurnal variations of the 17 OH progesterone salivary ii) the criteria of the metabolic impact of glucocorticoids: plasma glucose levels , blood lipids, and insulin sensitivity index HOMA-R calculated from glucose and insulin, iii) the criteria of bone impact of glucocorticoids: plasma for CTX bone resorption and bone alkaline phosphatase P1NP for bone formation iv) the living quality criteria evaluated by the PGWB Questionnaire (Psychological General Well-Being). The duration of the study period will be 24 months.