In utero virilization by danazol: Effects on adrenal steroidogenesis

Abstract

The measurement of serum concentrations of Δ4- and Δ5-steroid hormones after intravenous adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation in a 4-month-old infant female pseudohermaphrodite, who had been exposed to danazol in the first 20 weeks of gestation, showed normal 17-hydroxyprogesterone and compound S (11-deoxycortisol) but elevated 17-hydroxypregnenolone. Thus, protracted postnatal inhibition of adrenal 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity may occur after in utero exposure to danazol.