17-Hydroxy Progesterone

Clinical Significance:
17-Hydroxy Progesterone is a steroid derived primarily from enzymatic metabolism of Progesterone and 17-Hydroxy Pregnenolone.  It is converted enzymatically to Androstenedione and 11-Deoxycortisol.  It is produced in both the gonads and adrenal glands.  It is excreted into the urine in conjugated and unconjugated forms of 17-Hydroxy Progesterone and as Pregnanetriol.  It is stimulated by ACTH and suppressed by Dexamethasone.  Levels of 17-Hydroxy Progesterone are greatly increased in patients with Polycystic Ovarian Disease and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and show exaggerated responses to ACTH in these cases.  17-Hydroxy Progesterone is the marker steroid for determining cases of 21a-Hydroxylase Deficient Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.  Levels are frequently elevated in patients with idiopathic hirsutism. 

Reference Ranges:
Male:                                     25 – 200 ng/dl
Female:
  Follicular:                            15 –    70 ng/dl
  Luteal:                                  35 – 300 ng/dl

Procedure:
17-Hydroxy Progesterone is measured by radioimmunoassay following extraction of specimens.

Patient Preparation:
Patient should not be on any Corticosteroid, ACTH, Estrogen, or Gonadotropin medications, if possible, for at least 48 hours prior to collection of specimen.

Specimen Collection:
3 ml serum or EDTA plasma should be collected and separated as soon as possible.  Minimum specimen size is 1 ml.

Special Specimens:
For tumor/tissue and various fluids (i.e. CSF, peritoneal, synovial, etc.) contact the Institute for requirements and special handling.

Shipping Instructions:
Ship specimens frozen in dry ice.

References:
1. E Carmina and RA Lobo.  Pituitary-Adrenal Responses to Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in Late Onset 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency.  Fertility and Sterility 54: 79-83, 1990.

2. SM Atherton, ND Barnes, and DB Grant.  Circadian Variation in Plasma 17-Hydroxyprogesterone in Patients with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.  Archives of Disease in Children 47: 602, 1972