. Common Adrenal Disorders in Children Dr Sarar Mohamed FRCPCH (UK), MRCP (UK), CCST (Ire), CPT (Ire), DCH (Ire), MD Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist & Metabolist Associate Professor of Pediatrics King Saud University

. Agenda Physiology of adrenal Causes of adrenal insufficiency Addison Disease Adrenal crisis Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Cushing Syndrome

Aldosterone Mineralocorticoid Regulates concentration of Na+ and K+. –Kidney conserves Na+. –Kidney excretes K+. –Therefore, decreased aldosterone will lead to hyperkalemia and hypornatremia. Responds to changes in composition of plasma. Regulated by renin-angiotensin system of kidney

Regulation of adrenal gland secretion ACTH Cortisol

Aldosterone is regulated by the renin angiotensin system while cortisol is regulated by the hypothalamic pituitary axis. Random cortisol measurement is not useful, ACTH stimulating test to stimulate the adrenals must be done to measure it. If it’s still low after stimulation, then it suggests adrenal insuffeciency.

Pattern of cortisole level during the day

Adrenal Dysfunction Decrease function Adrenal insufficiency Low cortisol, aldestrone Eg Addison disease Increase function Cushing syndrome High Cortisol Hyperaldosteronism High aldestrone Pheochromocytoma High catecholamine.

Causes of Adrenal insufficiency 1.Congenital adrenal hyperplasia 2.Addison disease most common cause and it’s acquired. 3.Infection (TB, sepsis) 4.Adrenoleukodystrophy very rare..

Addison disease 1.Autoimmune 2.Isolated or associated with other autoimmune disease 3.Presents with tiredness, weight loss, skin pigmentation 4.Hypotension, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia 5.Aldestrone & cortisol low, high ACTH, high renin 6.Low sodium, high potasium 7.ACTH stimulation test: diagnostic test by giving synthetic ACTH (IV or IM) and measuring the serum cortisol at 30 and 60 minutes. In normal individuals the baseline cortisol should be doubled after the test whereas in adrenal insufficiency, the baseline (which is low) is only increased to 25% after the test. 8.Adrenal antibodies 9.Treatment : cortisol + aldosterone.

Hyperpigmentation A Color Atlas of Endocrinology p97

Addisonian crisis Life threatening complication Severe vomiting and diarrhoea followed by dehydration Low blood pressure and shock Hypoglycemia Loss of consciousness Treatment: IV fluids + IV hydrocortisone

Adrenal insufficiency with echomosis is suggestive of meningeococcal septicemia.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Family of inherited disorders of adrenal synthesis Autosomal Recessive (M=F) Each disorder results from a deficiency of one of the five enzymes necessary for steroid synthesis 21-hydroxylase  is the commonest form (90–95% of CAH cases)

Steroid biosynthetic enzymes 1)Cholesterol side chain cleavage= desmolase) 2) 3  -Hydoxysteroid dehydrogenase 3) 17  hydroxylase 4) 21  -Hydroxylase 5) 11  -Hydroxylase

MinerlocorticoidGlucocoticiodSex Steroid 17 OH Pregnenlolone 17 OH Progesterone 11 Desoxycortisol Cortisol 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH DeHydroEpiAndrosterone Androstendione TestosteroneEstradiol 3 B HSD Pregnenlolone Progesterone Desoxycorticosterone Corticosterone 18 OH Corticosterone Aldosterone Cholesterol Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 18 OH 17 a OH 17,20 lyase

Desmolase is the first step in the pathway and if deficient all three pathways will be stopped. Only female genitalia because no androgens at all. 3BHSD deficiency: all 3 enzymes will be absent but will also present with ambiguous genitalia because of high levels of DHEA 17aOH: cortisol and androgens are deficient and males will present with ambiguous genitalia. Aldosterone is present; therefore, they will not develop adrenal crisis and will have hypertension due to the excess aldosterone levels.

21aOH: is the commonest cause of CAH, both cortisol and aldosterone will be missing, the pathway will be shifted to the production of androgens which will be manifested as ambiguous genitalia in females and hyper-pigmentation and virilization in males. 11aOH: both cortisol and aldosterone will be deficient, but there will be accumulation of the Desoxycorticosterone which has an aldosterone like activity, therefore they will present hypertension, hypernatremia and hypokalemia), but it similar to 21OH in that they both present with ambiguous genitalia and low cortisol levels. Hypertension is only present in 11 And 17 OH deficiency.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

21-OH CAH: Clinical phenotypes 1.“Classic, severe” salt-wasting (SW) form: it is the life-threatening form. 2.“Classic, less severe” simple-virilizing (SV) 3.“Mild, non-classic” forms

Pregnenlolone Progesterone Desoxycorticosterone Corticosterone 18 OH Corticosterone Aldosterone 17 OH Pregnenlolone 17 OH Progesterone 11 Desoxycortisol Cortisol DeHydroEpiAndrosterone Androstendione TestosteroneEstradiol Cholesterol Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 18 OH Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 17 a OH Treatment Hydrocortisone Fludrocortisone For life 21-OH CAH : 90 % of CAH % salt wasting Female = ambiguous, Hyperpig Male = Virlization and hyperpigmentation

Salt wasting form –Adrenal crisis in the 1 st -4 th weeks of life, peaking at 3 rd –Poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea, FTT Dehydration Shock Electrolytes imbalance –Hyponatremia –Hyperkalaemia Hypoglycemia Hyperpigementations –If untreated  circulatory collapse  shock  death –Permanent brain injury due to shock and hypoglycemia  lower IQ

Simple virilizing form 21-OH CAH Simple virilizing form –No adrenal-insufficiency symptoms unless subjected to severe stress but exhibit virilization –Girls present with ambiguous genitalia at birth –Males usually not diagnosed until later (virilization, precocious, growth acceleration) –Advanced skeletal age diagnosed late  short adult stature

Prader Classification of Virilization

Type 1: increase in the size of the clitoris. Type 2: more increase in the size of the clitoris. Type 3: one opening, the vagina and clitoris opens in the same opening. Type 4: one opening and more increase in the size, starts looking as a penis. Type 5: looks like male genitalia with no testis. Newborn Screening

. Prader 1

.Prader 2

Prader 3.

Prader4

Prader5

Nonclassical CAH  Residual enzyme activity.  Non-salt losing CAH  Presents late in childhood with precocious pubic hair and/or clitoromegaly and accelerated growth.  Present in adolescence or adulthood with varying virilizing symptoms ranging from oligomenorrhea to hirusutism and infertility.

Non classic CAH.

Diagnosis of CAH Serum electrolytes & glucose Low Na & high K Fasting hypoglycemia Elevated serum urea due to associated dehydration Elevated plasma Renin & ACTH levels Low Cortisol High 17 – OHP High androgens especially testosterone level Low Aldosterone Urinary steroid profile Chromosomal study and US of external genitalia if they present with ambiguous genitalia. Pelvic US

Management Hydrocortisone Fludrocortisone mg/day Triple dose of hydrocortisone and mineralcorticoids during stress or very sick. During adrenal crisis intravenous hydrocortisone and IV fluid Surgery for female external genitalia can be done in the 1st year of life. Antenatal diagnosis and treatment

Newborn screening for CAH Neonatal screening by filter paper on 3 rd day of life 17 Hydroxyprogestrone blood level (17 OHP).

Pregnenlolone Progesterone Desoxycorticosterone Corticosterone 18 OH Corticosterone Aldosterone 17 OH Pregnenlolone 17 OH Progesterone 11 Desoxycortisol Cortisol DeHydroEpiAndrosterone Androstendione TestosteroneEstradiol Cholesterol Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 18 OH Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 17 a OH 11 Hydroxylase Deficiency: 5 % of CAH HTN Female = ambiguous, Hyperpig Male = virlization

Pregnenlolone Progesterone Desoxycorticosterone Corticosterone 18 OH Corticosterone Aldosterone 17 OH Pregnenlolone 17 OH Progesterone 11 Desoxycortisol Cortisol DeHydroEpiAndrosterone Androstendione TestosteroneEstradiol Cholesterol Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 18 OH Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 17 a OH 17 Hydroxylase Deficiency: (adrenal crisis doesn’t occur) HTN Hypokalemic alkalosis Female = Normal Male = Ambiguous.

Pregnenlolone Progesterone Desoxycorticosterone Corticosterone 18 OH Corticosterone Aldosterone 17 OH Pregnenlolone 17 OH Progesterone 11 Desoxycortisol Cortisol DeHydroEpiAndrosterone Androstendione TestosteroneEstradiol Cholesterol Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 18 OH Desmolase 3 B HSD 21 OH 11 OH 17 a OH Survival is rare due to more proximal enzyme bloke 3 B Hydroxy steroid DH Deficiency:. Weak Androgen; therefore, ambiguous genitalia in females only.

Congenital Lipoid Adrenal Hypoplasia Inability to convert cholesterol to pregnenolone thus all 3 classes of steroids are absent (1 st step is inhibited due to the absence of desmolase) Clinical Manifestations: –Salt-losing crisis –XX and XY have female genitalia –Massive cholesterol accumulation in adrenal cortex –Absent puberty in males –Females may have puberty

Harvey Williams Cushing ( )

Definitions Cushing’s Syndrome –Excess cortisol in the blood Cushing’s Disease most common –Excess cortisol in the blood due to an ACTH secreting pituitary tumour, due to pituitary adenoma.

ACTH ADRENAL CORTEX PITUITARY HYPOTHALAMUS CRH CORTISOL

Cushing’s syndrome Cushing’s Syndrome –Results from increased adrenocortical secretion of cortisol –Causes include: ACTH-secreting tumor of the pituitary (Cushing’s disease) excess secretion of cortisol by a neoplasm within the adrenal cortex ectopic secretion of ACTH by a malignant growth outside the adrenal gland excessive or prolonged administration of steroids

Cushing’s Syndrome –Characterized by: truncal obesity moon face buffalo hump acne, hirsutism abdominal striae hypertension psychiatric disturbances osteoporosis Amenorrhea Diabetes Cushing’s syndrome

Establishing the Cause Serum ACTH, cortisol and urine free cortisol (urine free cortisol is so sensitive, if high you do the suppression test) Dexamethasone Suppression testing Localisation of the ACTH source –Imaging (MRI) for pit pathologies –CT scan for adrenal pathologies.

Treatment of Cushing’s syndrome Treatment of underline cause Surgery for neoplasia.

Data interpretation A 2 week old infant presents to hospital with 1 week history of persistent vomiting and lethargy. On examination the infant is 10% dehydrated and unwell. He has normal male genitalia and both gonads are palpable blood results are: Sodium 115 mmol/L Glucose 3.8 mmol/L; hypoglycemic <2.7mmol/L Potassium 7.2 mmol?L What two investigations would be most likely to confirm the diagnosis? How do you treat?

This case could be CAH or hyponatremic dehydration, so now we added the presence of hyperpigmentation to the scenario to confirm CAH. The most important 2 investigations are: A. 17 hydroxyprogesterone as a screening test, it will be high (blockage of 21OH will lead to its accumulation of substrate before. B. ACTH stimulation test to confirm the diagnosis. DNA study (CYP21) for 21 OH deficiency is done at the end. Treatment: I.V fluid and I.V hydrocortisone for the treatment of the crisis, and replacement of cortisol and aldosterone for life. Not addisons because it doesn’t present in the first few months of life. Newborn Screening