Management of Non-Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in Pregnant Woman-Non-Referral Center Experience-Case Report

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with mutations in genes involved in cortisol and aldosterone production. Based on overall 21-OHase activity, CAH is divided into classic (C-CAH) and non-classic (NC-CAH). Females who suffered from NC-CAH have had increased infertility rates and higher miscarriage susceptibility. The treatment of CAH in pregnancy is still debatable. We present 22-years-old pregnant female (seventh week of gestation), who is currently under dexamethasone (DEX) since almost seven years for NC-CAH. At presentation, she is normotensive, non-obese, with no signs of hirsutism and Cushing syndrome. Seven days after the first visit, an endocrinologist makes informative talk with the patient and her mother about NC-CAH, pregnancy, and drugsassociated risks. Current Clinical Practice Guideline for CAH treatment suggests the use of protocols approved by Institutional Review Boards at Centers experienced in CAH treatment. In women with CAH who are planning a pregnancy, a close relationship between endocrinologist, reproductive gynaecologist and molecular biologist is of great interest. Prenatal management with DEX is advised in particular circumstances. In remaining, the switch from DEX to other glucocorticoids that do not penetrate placenta is advised.

Clinical presentation of NC-CAH in adult women is very diverse, from asymptomatic to one presented as hirsutism, menstrual disorders, acne, infertility and rarely primary amenorrhea and virilization [8].In males, NC-CAH is usually asymptomatic but can be the cause of impaired fertility [8].The diagnostic procedure for NC-CAH involves measurement of 17-OHP, ACTH stimulation test, and genetic testing for CYP21A2 week of gestation), who is currently under DEX treatment began since almost seven years for NC-CAH (0.25 mg on working days, 0.5 mg on weekdays), diagnosed during the evaluation of secondary amenorrhea.She did not carry out any advised genetic counselling.At presentation, she is normotensive, slim (Body Mass Index 19.5 kg/m 2 ), with no hirsutism (Ferriman-Lorenz-Gallway scale of hirsutism < 16) and clinical signs of Cushing syndrome.Previous and current results are shown in Table 1.Seven days after the first visit, an endocrinologist makes informative talk with the patient and her mother about NC-CAH and pregnancy, drugs and associated risks.DEX was switched to HC (20 mg/ bid).Prenatal genetic testing was done (tenth week of gestation) and revealed the female gender of the fetus with no gross quantitative chromosomal abnormalities.HC treatment was succeeded,and regular follow-up of mother and fetus was continued, with no visible changes in fetal morphology.
Infertility affects about 13% of women with NC-CAH but can be improved with HC treatment [6,12].Women with NC-CAH who have a desire to be pregnant must bear in mind the risk of C-CAH in infant [13].In the study of Bidet, et al. 1.5% of the infants were born with C-CAH from the population of mothers with NC-CAH [6].Another reported a higher risk of C-CAH in newborns (2.5%), and that about 15% of offspring would have NC-CAH [14].Predicted risk of having a child with C-CAH of NC-CAH parents is 1:240.According to the fact that the vast majority of NC-CAH parents are heterozygous compound carriers of severe and mild mutations, further predicted incidence is about 1:360 [7,15].
Pregnancies with NC-CAH are thought as high-risk, because of higher rates of miscarriages, predominantly in those who are not covered with GCs (26.3 vs. 6.5%)[6].According to the report that the administration of HC before and during the pregnancy period reduced miscarriage rates [6], the women with CAH who mutation [7,9].Genetic testing is preferably performed in symptomatic NC-CAH.Most of screening programs do not detect individuals with NC-CAH because of the majority of individuals with NC-CAH experience normal growth, puberty, and reproduction [10].
Treatment of NC-CAH is recommended in symptomatic individuals with the aim to reduce clinically apparent hyperandrogenism.Hydrocortisone (HC) in children and glucocorticoids (GCs) other than HC (prednisone, prednisolone, and DEX) are preferable treatment options [7,11].
We present a case of a woman with NC-CAH and unexpected pregnancy, who was already under treatment with DEX.Its use in pregnancy is still debatable, because of mothers' and fetus' short-and long term risks.
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient, and the Ethical Committee of Zemun Clinical Hospital approved the study.
We present 22-years-old pregnant female (seventh

Conclusions
We present a case of unexpectedly pregnant young women, who was already under the DEX treatment because of NC-CAH-induced secondary amenorrhea seven years.Taking into account that she was not sure about pregnancy continuation, her mental condition, the refuse of partner to undergo genetic test regarding CAH detection, as well as the fact that DEX was already changed into HC, the multidisciplinary team approved further HC use and thorough follow-up.
In conclusion, switching of DEX to other GCs that do not penetrate placenta is of great importance in early pregnancy, before the virilization of fetuses begins.The use of modern prenatal genetic testing can additionally help the clinician in deciding on further use of GCs during pregnancy.The use of DEX is appropriate in strongly recommended cases.It is suggested that the introduction and surveillance of DEX treatment in pregnant women with NC-CAH is reserved for referral and experienced centres.
were under treatment with GCs before pregnancy will continue the treatment during pregnancy, but with GCs that do not cross the placenta, such as HC, prednisone, and prednisolone administered in the doses used in secondary adrenocortical failure [9].So, the recommended daily dose of those treated with HC was 20-25 mg from the beginning of pregnancy [6].On the contrary, the women with NC-CAH who were not managedwith GCs before the pregnancy are not candidates for GCs introduction during pregnancy [16].
The reasons for DEX use in pregnancy are the prenatal treatment of female fetus that is at risk of C-CAH-associated virilization, the need for fetus reconstructive surgery and anxiety control of parents who might have a child with ambiguous genitalia [11,15,16].According to all, DEX must be introduced just after pregnancy confirmation (at six weeks), because fetal genital virilization begins six to seven weeks after conception [16].The recommended DEX use is 20 mcg/kg of maternal body weight divided into three doses.DEX is not inactivated by 11-betahydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II, so it passes the placenta and suppresses fetal ACTH secretion [17].If the prenatal diagnostics are suggestive to a male fetus, DEX treatment is discontinued [17].
Regarding delayed results of genetic testing in individuals who underwent chorionic villous biopsies (performed at ten to twelve weeks), all pregnancies at risk for fetal C-CAH are treated even though the only 1 of 4 is affected, and 1 in 8 affected fetuses is female [15,18].As the prenatal treatment of CAH is still experimental, the best approach is to introduce DEX treatment in specialized and referral centres with relevant Ethical Committee, after the mother signed written informed consent [9].Except in already mentioned reasons, current Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline suggests avoiding of prenatal DEX exposure of mother and fetus and consequent potential harmful effects of DEX use, that are not thoroughly examined [11].
DEX is classified as B category drug regarding safety in pregnancy, which means that safety in pregnancy, is not established.So its prescription for prenatal treatment of CAH is off-label in USA and EU [11].Both fetus and mother are exposed to the risk of DEX use in pregnancy.The fetus risk associated with GCs use in early pregnancy includes orofacial clefts, reduction in short-term, non-verbal and verbal working memory [15,19,20].In mothers, GCs-induced hypercortisolism could be the consequence of GCs treatment [21].Additionally, significance of collaboration between gynaecologists and reproductive endocrinologist must be stressed in regards to DEX use in assisted reproductive technologies.According to that, the reduction of prenatal use of DEX will reduce long-term cognitive disorders in treated healthy female fetuses [4].

Table 1 :
The results' cross-section of biochemical and hormonal analyses and administered drugs.