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Homozygous Disruption of P450 Side-Chain Cleavage (CYP11A1) Is Associated with Prematurity, Complete 46,XY Sex Reversal, and Severe Adrenal Failure

Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University-Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck (O.H., P.-M.H., R.W., C.M., U.H., D.S.), 23538 Lübeck, and Campus Kiel (C.-J.P., F.G.R.), 24105 Kiel, Germany; and Department of Medicine and Institute of Child Health (J.C.A.), University College, WC1N 1EH London, United Kingdom

Address requests for reprints to: Olaf Hiort, M.D., Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. E-mail: hiort{at}paedia.ukl.mu-luebeck.de.

Disruption of the P450 side-chain cleavage cytochrome (P450scc) enzyme due to deleterious mutations of the CYP11A1 gene is thought to be incompatible with fetal survival because of impaired progesterone production by the fetoplacental unit. We present a 46,XY patient with a homozygous disruption of CYP11A1.

The child was born prematurely with complete sex reversal and severe adrenal insufficiency. Laboratory data showed diminished or absent steroidogenesis in all pathways. Molecular genetic analysis of the CYP11A1 gene revealed a homozygous single nucleotide deletion leading to a premature termination at codon position 288. This mutation will delete highly conserved regions of the P450scc enzyme and thus is predicted to lead to a nonfunctional protein. Both healthy parents were heterozygous for this mutation.

Our report demonstrates that severe disruption of P450scc can be compatible with survival in rare instances. Furthermore, defects in this enzyme are inherited in an autosomal-recessive fashion, and heterozygote carriers can be healthy and fertile. The possibility of P450scc-independent pathways of steroid synthesis in addition to the current concept of luteoplacental shift of progesterone synthesis in humans has to be questioned.

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