The detection of the heterozygous carrier for congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia.

The response of plasma progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and cortisol to intravenous ACTH was determined in 16 control subjects and seven sets of parents of children with congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia. The baseline and poststimulation concentrations of hormones (of each group) were similar except for those of 17-OHP in the parents which were significantly greater following administration of ACTH. When rates of increase were determined, those of progesterone and 17-OHP but not cortisol were significantly greater in the parents. The combined rate of increase of progesterone and 17-OHP was calculated; 10 of the 14 parents had a combined rate of increase greater than the mean plus two standard deviations of the control group. This test provides a simple method for the detection of some heterozygous carriers for CVAH.