CRC_Congenital_Adrenal_Hyperplasia Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, CAH

Hormonal Impacts of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Explore the effects

Living with CAH causes a cascade of hormonal shifts.

Hormonal Impacts of CAH

About 95% of people with CAH are missing the enzyme 21-hydroxylase.This triggers a domino effect of hormonal imbalances.

You don’t make aldosterone, or can’t make enough of it.This is called “salt-wasting” CAH and it leads to dehydration, low blood pressure and salt loss.

Hormonal Impacts of CAH

You can’t convert 17-OHP (a steroid hormone) into cortisol effectively.Your body can’t effectively manage stress — both physical (like illness or injury) and emotional.

17-hydroxyprogesterone

Hormonal Impacts of CAH

17-OHP builds up.It turns into extra androgens. Progesterone may also rise. This can cause issues with sexual development, infertility, excess body hair, acne and more.

Hormonal Impacts of CAH

Your pituitary gland produces lots of ACTH to try to fix the cortisol problem.Cortisol still doesn’t rise, but other hormones are affected.

adrenocorticotropic hormone

Hormonal Impacts of CAH

ACTH is made from a molecule called POMC, which also makes MSH.When ACTH increases, so does MSH — which boosts melanin in your skin, causing hyperpigmentation.

melanocyte-stimulating hormone

pro-opiomelanocortin

Dark patches or uneven skin tone

Hormonal Impacts of CAH