Infertility reversed by glucocorticoids and full-term pregnancy in a couple with previously undiagnosed nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE

To report the case of a couple with infertility and two unsuccessful previous attempts of ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF), whose nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) was diagnosed and verified by molecular studies.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Outpatient practice and academic hospital.

PATIENT(S): A woman with hyperandrogenism, luteal phase deficiency, and polycystic ovaries, and a man with oligospermia, a high rate of abnormal forms of spermatozoa (>95%), decreased sperm motility, and normal testicular volume.

INTERVENTION(S): Ultrasonography, semen analysis, endocrinologic assays, corticosteroids.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Increased basal and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulated 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) values were detected in both partners. CYP21A2 genotyping revealed compound heterozygosity in both wife and husband (wife: p.P30L/p.P453S; husband: p.P453S /p.V281L).

RESULT(S): Hydrocortisone, 30 mg/day orally, was administered to both wife and husband. Forty days later, a pregnancy was detected. The prospective mother continued to receive hydrocortisone (25 mg/day) adjusted according to her hormone status. After a full-term uneventful pregnancy, a completely normal female was born. The baby had NC-CAH (genotype p.P30L/p.V281L).

CONCLUSION(S): Nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a potential cause of infertility in couples, can be successfully treated with corticosteroids.