Identification of new steroids in patients with 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Urines of two children with 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency contained a number of 5-pregnane- and pregnenediols, -triols and -tetrols with a hydroxy or oxo group in position 11 of the steroid ring. They are formed mainly from progesterone via 11-hydroxyprogesterone, pregnanolone and corticosterone, respectively, or from pregnenolone. Three metabolites not previously described, 16-hydroxypregnenolone, 6,21-dihydroxypregnanediol and 6-hydroxytetrahydrocorticosterone, were identified.