17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency is a rare disorder of sexual development which can produce impaired virilization (traditionally termed male pseudohermaphroditism) of genetically male infants and children and excessive virilization of female adults. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive condition and is one of the few disorders of sexual development that can affect the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of both XX and XY persons.

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Etiology

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency type 3 (17βHSD3) is a disorder in testosterone biosynthesis. As a consequence of this disorder, normal male sexual differentiation in impaired as well as virilization. In the Netherlands, 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency is estimated to occur 1:147.000 newborns.^[1]

Clinical characteristics

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency-3 is clinically characterized by either ambiguous external genitalia or complete female external genitalia at birth; as a consequence of impaired male sexual differentiation in 46,XY individuals. Further investigations on ambiguous genitalia will eventually lead to findings of intersexuality. Severely impaired virilization (often complete absence of male sexual differentiation) can lead to development of female external genitalia. These children are raised as female, and their diagnosis is often discovered when there is absence of menarche (first menstruation) and when they begin to virilize during puberty (slowly become more like a man; deepening of the voice, acne, male musculature etc). At careful examination, testis can often be found in the inguinal channel.

Biochemistry

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency-3 is biochemically characterized by decreased levels of testosterone and increased levels of androstenedione as a result of the defect in conversion of androstenedione into testosterone. This leads to clinically important higher ratio of androstenedione to testosterone (A'dion/T) (see figure).

Genetics

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency-3 is caused by gene mutations found in the 17Beta Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17BHSD3). 17BHSD3 deficiency-3 is an autosomal recessive disorder.

References

1. ^ Boehmer A et al (1999). "17Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 deficiency: diagnosis, phenotypic variability, population genetics, and worldwide distribution of ancient and de novo mutations". J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84 (12): 4713-21. PMID 10599740.