[Corticosteroid and ACTH levels in relation to the age and sex of children with congenital adrenocortical dysfunction].

The authors studied adrenal and corticotropic functions of the pituitary in 98 children with congenital adrenal dysfunction and in 41 normal children. The children's age ranged from 2 to 16 years. The bone age of the sick children ranged within 6 to 16 years. The content of hydrocortisone and ACTH in the sick children was shown to be within the age norm. This attests to the preservation in these children of the functional potentialities of the adrenals and pituitary. It was emphasized that high content of 11-deoxycortisol in untreated patients decreased in the course of treatment. Therefore, the level of 11-deoxycortisol may serve as criterion of the adequacy of the hormonal therapy received by the patients.