Alterations in Lipid and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Patients with Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency

<i>Background:</i> Classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21HD) presents some traits of the metabolic syndrome. <i>Aim:</i> To characterize discrete alterations of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in children and young adults with classic 21HD, which could predict early atherogenesis. <i>Patients and Methods:</i> Twenty-seven Caucasian patients with classic 21HD (4–31 years); 27 sex-, age- and BMI-matched controls. Clinical parameters, hormonal status and genotype were assessed in all patients. Lipid parameters, including relative (%) and absolute (mg/dl) small-dense low-density lipoproteins subfractions (sd-LDL) were measured in patients and controls. Oral …