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Regarding 17 alpha progesterone
I had delivery of my baby in 36 week 4 days...after delivery my baby has lung stress issue ,he kept in icu for 8 hours
After that he has screening test in 2nd day of baby birth
All report are normal except 17 alpha progesterone it's value is 62 nmol/ l
What I will do now
Answers (8)
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Elevated level may b due to preterm or stress related . Repeat test after 2 wks .
Next Steps
Monitor for feeding , vomiting , lethargy and urine out put .
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The raised 17-OHP level may indicate Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), a metabolic disorder caused by a defect in steroid hormone production. However, in preterm babies, this hormone may be falsely elevated due to immature adrenal glands. As your baby has no other features of CAH, this may not indicate true disease.
Next Steps
repeat 17-OHP test after a few days or at term age.
If needed, a confirmatory hormone test may be done.
Blood sugar and electrolyte levels may also be monitored.
Health Tips
No treatment is needed right now, but follow-up is important. Please watch for signs like poor feeding, vomiting, or lethargy, and report immediately if they appear.
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May be due to preterm and stress due to respiratory distress .
Next Steps
repeat after 1 week
watch for lethargy..decreased urine output ..decreased feeding ..
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Hello, I understand your concern
An elevated 17-OHP can be a sign of a condition called Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). This is a genetic disorder affecting the adrenal glands, leading to problems in hormone production—specifically cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. The body compensates by producing excess androgen hormones.
62 nmol/L (2040 ng/dL) is elevated, but your baby is preterm (36 weeks), and false positives are common in preterm or stressed babies. Many babies with high levels do not have CAH, so we do not panic at this stage.
Next Steps
We will repeat the test (serum 17-OHP, electrolytes) after a few days—ideally by day 7–10, once the baby is more stable and feeding well. If needed, we may refer to a Pediatric Endocrinologist.
If CAH is confirmed, It is treatable with daily medications (hydrocortisone, sometimes fludrocortisone). Long-term prognosis is excellent with proper care.
Health Tips
Watch for:
Poor feeding or vomiting
Lethargy or drowsiness
Dehydration or poor weight gain
Salt-wasting signs: excessive urination, low sodium, high potassium (usually after day 5–7)
In girls: ambiguous genitalia may be present (but not always)
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Mild increase in a late preterm can happen
Next Steps
repeat Test after a week and share report with me via practo
Health Tips
keep loving your baby and exclusive breastfeeding
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Dr. Bhatt Vivek Prafulchandra
Pediatrician
5 yrs exp
Rajkot
Consult with Pediatrician physically for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Anjali Maini
Pediatrician
33 yrs exp
Gurgaon
The baby is born preterm and had a stressful postnatal course. The high 17 OH progesterone can be secondary to it. Ideally the screening should have been done at least 48 hours after delivery.
You need to test again now and then again at 2-3 weeks after birth. With a repeat test it is advisable to do a serum sodium, potassium and glucose. Preferably be in contact with a pediatric endocrinologist. The condition suggestive is of a deficiency of enzyme in the adrenal gland leading to a condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Crucial steroid hormones are not formed leading to a condition where salt wasting occurs by 7-14 days after birth.
Also these hormone imbalance also may cause an ambiguity in genitalia formation. For this reason too it is crucial that you follow with a pediatric endocrinologist. Labelling of proper sex at birth is of prime importance.
Next Steps
Watch out for any evidence of salt wasting - lethargy, vomiting, loose stools, dehydration, failure to thrive
Follow with a pediatric endocrinologist as advised to decide how much testing is required.
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Dr. Noureen Sadaf
Pediatrician
3 yrs exp
Kota
General advice would be to repeat the test in 7-10 days as it can also increase due to acute stress and in preterms.
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