Bilateral Adrenalectomy in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Context: Management of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) involves suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis using supraphysiological doses of exogenous glucocorticoids. This can pose a challenge, with Cushing syndrome a frequent complication of adequate suppression. Bilateral adrenalectomy, with subsequent replacement of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids at physiological doses, has been proposed as an alternative therapeutic strategy. Objective: To review the outcomes after bilateral adrenalectomy for CAH. Data Sources: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science, identifying relevant reports published up to 10 January 2018. Study Selection: Case reports or case series were included if they reported individual patient data from patients with CAH who had undergone bilateral adrenalectomy. Data Extraction: Information regarding the following was extracted: first author, country, sex, age at adrenalectomy, year of adrenalectomy, diagnosis, molecular abnormality, pre- and postoperative biochemistry, pre- and postoperative medications, pre- and postoperative body mass index, indication for adrenalectomy, surgical technique, gross and microscopic adrenal characteristics, follow-up duration, and short-and long-term postoperative outcomes. Data Synthesis: We identified 48 cases of bilateral adrenalectomy for CAH, with patients aged from 4 months to 56 years at surgery. The most common indication for surgery was the inability to control hyperandrogenism/virilization and/or Cushing syndrome (n = 30; 62%). Most patients (n = 34; 71%) reported symptomatic improvement postoperatively, with some cases of short-term (n = 5; 10%) and long-term (n = 13; 27%) adverse outcomes. Conclusions: Bilateral adrenalectomy for CAH appears to be a reasonable therapeutic option for carefully selected patients who have had unsatisfactory outcomes with conventional medical management.