A 25-year-old woman sees her physician because of hirsutism (inappropriate hair growth)and excessive acne.During examination,her blood pressure is 150/90 mm Hg (elevated).Blood work reveals normal Na⁺ but low/normal K⁺ levels.Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)levels are in the high end of the normal range,and levelso f DHEAS and ACTH are moderately elevated.Her physician suspects late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia resulting from subnormal activity of an adrenal enzyme.The "hyperplasia" associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia is caused by elevated levels of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The elevated levels of ACTH in this patient indicate that there is excessive stimulation of the adrenal gland, which can lead to hyperplasia. This excessive stimulation is due to subnormal activity of an adrenal enzyme, which is causing the high testosterone and DHT levels. Elevated levels of DHEAS are seen in some forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, but in this case, the DHEAS levels are only moderately elevated. Cortisol and aldosterone levels are normal in this patient. Deoxycorticosterone (DOC) is not typically elevated in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

A 25-Year-Old Woman Sees Her Physician Because of Hirsutism (Inappropriate