Genetic, anthropometric and metabolic features of adult Norwegian patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the genetic, anthropometric and metabolic features in an unselected population of adult Norwegian patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD). Patients, methods and design: Sixty-four 21OHD patients participated (23 men and 41 women; median age 38.5 years; range 19-72 years) in a cross-sectional study including DNA sequencing of CYP21A2, anthropometric measurements including dual X-ray absorptiometry scanning and biochemical analyses. The results were compared with reference cohorts from the general population. Results: We identified four novel and plausibly disease-causing CYP21A2 mutations. Gene deletions/conversions (42.1% of alleles), the splice mutation I2 splice (23.0%) and point mutation I172 N (22.2%) were common. The genotype corresponded to clinical phenotype in 92% of the patients. The prevalence of osteopenia was 48% in males and 34% in females. Both men and women had normal BMI but markedly increased fat mass compared with the normal population. Diastolic blood pressure was higher than normal. Thirty-nine per cent of the women had testosterone levels above the normal range; 13% of the men had testosterone levels below normal. Reduced final height was more pronounced in men (median -11.2 cm, -1.77 SDS) than in women (-6.3 cm, -1.07 SDS). Conclusions: In this population-based survey of 21OHD, we identified four novel mutations and high concordance between genotype and phenotype. The patients had increased fat mass, increased diastolic blood pressure, reduced final height and high frequency of osteopenia among males. These results show unfavourable metabolic features in 21OHD patients indicating a need for improvement of treatment and follow-up.