Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Definition
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) refers to a group of autosomal recessive genetic conditions that result from an abnormality in one of the enzymes required by the adrenal glands to convert cholesterol into cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens.
Description
The first likely description of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) occurred in 1865 when an anatomist named Luigi De Crecchio reported on a cadaver who had what appeared to be a penis with the urinary opening on its underside and undescended testicles. What was remarkable about this cadaver was that it also had a vagina, a uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and very enlarged adrenal glands. From four years of age until his death, this person had lived his life as a male although at birth he was declared a female. He died in...
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