Pattern of blood 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentration and distribution among neonates in Saudi Arabia

• Published in: Screening (Amsterdam) Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 85 - 89
• Main Authors: Stevens, Brian, Al-Nuaim, Abdul Rahman, Abdullah, Mohammed Ahmed, Zain, Mohammed, Melha, Abdullah Abu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-09-1995
• Subjects: 17-hydroxyprogesterone; Congenital adrenal hyperplasia; Neonates; Screening; Neonates; Screening; 17-hydroxyprogesterone; Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• ISSN: 0925-6164
• DOI: 10.1016/0925-6164(95)00112-Y

Introduction: On the basis of routine screening as well as clinical ascertainment, the incidence of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) seems to vary widely in different areas of the world. Anecdotal evidence from physicians in Saudi Arabia suggests that the incidence in this country might be higher than in western societies. Thus, it might be wise to establish neonatal screening for CAH in Saudi Arabia. Before beginning universal screening, however, normal values in neonates for the screened analyte, in this case 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), should be known.
Methods: Dried blood spots on filter paper of cord blood and neonatal blood were collected from healthy full-term Saudi infants. 17-OHP was measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay.
Results: The cord blood (
n = 251) mean 17-OHP value of 24 ± 11 nmol/1 was significantly higher (
P = 0.006) than the corresponding neonatal blood (
n = 786) mean value of 21 ± 11 nmol/1. Male neonates had significantly higher blood 17-OHP than female neonates (22 ± 12 vs. 18 ± 9 nmol/1,
P < 0.006). The median 17-OHP concentration decreased with increasing sampling time after birth, ranging from 27 nmol/1 at less than 12 h to 9 nmol/1 at more than 72 h.
Discussion: Algorithms for sampling-time and gender in full-term neonates could be developed in neonatal CAH screening. Data such as these could be used to develop such algorithms.