[Adrenal hyperandrogenism due to enzyme disturbance of late onset (author's transl)]

In the context of hyperandrogenism, the group of hyperandrogenism due to disturbances in hormon-synthesis of late onset is worthy of being considered separately, not by virtue of its prevalence but by the fact that its course may be one of isolate hirsutism (3 cases out of 11 in this study), or even sterility. The diagnosis may be of varying difficulty, because of the incomplete nature of the block. Eleven cases are reported, ten due to a partial deficit in 21 hydroxydation, and one due to a deficit in 11 hydroxydation. The presence of cortisone precursors is often more significant in stimulation tests. Estimation of blood testosterone levels may give somewhat high results in certain cases, but it must be emphasized that it may be diminished dexamethasone and the estimateion of delta 4 androstenedione is of value. In difficult cases, the diagnosis of a minor or incomplete disturbance is based upon a combination of biological, statistical and dynamic arguments. However this diagnosis is important since cortisone at low inhibitory doses are effective, in particular against menstrual disorders, sometimes making it possible to rapidly correct sterility.