Therapy of adrenocortical hydroxylase deficiencies in acne vulgaris

Twenty women with acne vulgaris who presented to a gynecologist's office with the complaints of hirsutism, infertility, menorrhagia, or oligomenorrhea were subjected to a 24-hour cosyntropin (ACTH) infusion to detect partial 11- or 21-adrenocortical hydroxylase deficiencies. All patients demonstrated enzymatic defects and were placed on prednisone therapy. The six patients with moderate acne either showed improvement of their acne or conceived. Of the 14 patients with mild acne, seven showed improvement of their acne or conceived; whereas, the remainder showed no improvement. Patients with acne and gynecologic signs and symptoms should be evaluated for the presence of 11- or 21-adrenocortical hydroxylase deficiencies.