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17α-hydroxyprogesterone in blood in newborns (test for congenital adrenogenital syndrome)
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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17-hydroxyprogesterone serves as a substrate for the synthesis of cortisol in the adrenal cortex. In congenital hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex or adrenogenital syndrome as a result of mutations in the genes responsible for the synthesis of various enzymes of certain stages of steroidogenesis, the content of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the blood of the fetus, amniotic fluid and the blood of the pregnant woman increases. In this regard, the study of 17-hydroxyprogesterone can be used for both prenatal and postnatal diagnostics of fetal diseases. In physiological pregnancy, the concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the blood of a pregnant woman does not exceed 14 nmol/l.
Serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentration in the dynamics of physiological pregnancy
Pregnancy period |
Reference values |
|
Ng/dl |
Nmol/l |
|
1st trimester |
93.3-144.3 |
2.8-4.3 |
2nd trimester |
203.3-470 |
6.1-14.1 |
III trimester |
203.3-466.7 |
6.1-14 |
In congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the fetus, an increase in the concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the pregnant woman's blood is noted already in the first trimester, on average up to 12 nmol/l (3-30 nmol/l). In the second trimester, the content of 17-hydroxyprogesterone reaches 25 nmol/l (20-35 nmol/l), in the third trimester - 35 nmol/l (in amniotic fluid - up to 50 nmol/l).
If congenital adrenogenital syndrome is suspected, the concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the blood from the umbilical cord (or obtained in the first 3 days after birth) is examined.
Reference values (norm) of 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentration in the blood of newborns
Age |
Reference values |
|
Ng/ml |
Nmol/l |
|
Blood from the umbilical cord |
9-50 |
27.3-151.5 |
Premature |
0.26-5.68 |
0.8-17.0 |
Newborns first 3 days |
0.07-0.77 |
0.2-2.3 |
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency is accompanied by an increase in the concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the blood to 40-220 ng/ml; with 11β-hydroxylase deficiency, the increase is less pronounced.
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