Abstract
Three sibs with an inherited form of male pseudohermaphroditism are described. They were all born with ambiguous external genitalia but no diagnosis of a possible enzyme defect was made during childhood. First seen at the ages of 16, 14 and 10 years respectively, they were investigated in order to establish the pathogenetic nature of the disorder. Serum concentrations of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone before and after stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin suggested 5α-reductase deficiency. Measurement of steroid metabolites in urine confirmed this diagnosis. It is essential to recognize this condition in order to decide the sex of rearing of the children.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Givens JR, Wiser WL, Summitt RL, Kerber IJ, Andersen RN, Pittaway DE, Fish SA (1974) Familial male pseudohermaphroditism without gynecomastia due to deficient testicular 17-ketosteroid reductase activity. N Engl J Med 291:938–944
Imperato-McGinley J, Guerrero L, Gautier T, Peterson RE (1974) Steroid 5α-reductase deficiency in man. An inherited form of male pseudohermaphroditism. Science 186:1213–1215
Imperato-McGinley J, Peterson RE, Gautier T, Arthur A, Shackleton C (1985) Decreased urinary C19 and C21 steroid 5α-metabolites in parents of male pseudohermaphrodites with 5α-reductase deficiency: detection of carriers. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 60:553–558
Opitz JM, Simpson JL, Sarto GE, Summitt RL, New M, German J (1972) Pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias. Clin Genet 3: 1–26
Peterson RE, Imperato-McGinley J, Gautier T, Sturla E (1977) Male pseudohermaphroditism due to steroid 5 α-reductase deficiency. Am J Med 62:170–191
Peterson RE, Imperato-McGinley J, Gautier T, Shackleton C (1985) Urinary steroid metabolites in subjects with male pseudohermaphroditism due to 5α-reductase deficiency. Clin Endocrinol 23:43–53
Rösler A, Kohn G (1983) Male pseudohermaphroditism due to 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency: studies on the natural history of the defect and effect of androgens on gender role. J Steroid Biochem 19:663–674
Shackleton CHL, Honour JW (1976) Simultaneous estimation of urinary steroids by semiautomated gas chromatography: Investigation of neonatal infants and children with abnormal steroid synthesis. Clin Chim Acta 69:267–283
Shackleton CHL, Whitney JO (1980) Use of Sep-pak cartridges for urinary steroid extraction: evaluation of the method for use prior to gas chromatographic analysis. Clin Chim Acta 107:231–243
Thorell J, Larson SM (1978) Radioimmunoassay and related techniques. Mosby St Louis
Walsh PC, Madden JD, Harrod MJ, Goldstein JL, MacDonald PC, Wilson JD (1974) Familial incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism, type 2. Decreased dihydrotestosterone formation in pseudo-vaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias. N Engl J Med 291:944–949
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ivarsson, S.A., Nielsen, M.D. & Lindberg, T. Male pseudohermaphroditism due to 5α-reductase deficiency in a Swedish family. Eur J Pediatr 147, 532–535 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441984
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441984