Disorders of the Human Adrenal Cortex

Recent studies of adrenal hypoplasia, steroid biosynthesis and adrenocortical disorders have increased our understanding of this system, but the fact remains that we still have basic questions. For example, why are human adrenals large and unimportant prenatally but small and important after birth? In this collection of ten articles international experts describe their research in adrenal development and disorders, steroidogenic enzymes, adrenal androgens in humans an nonhuman primates, androgen synthesis and its clinical implications, a new form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, long-term outcomes of prenatal treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, syndromes involving adrenocorticotropin resistance, corticotrophin-independent Cushing Syndrome, and adrenal steroidogenesis and arterial hypertension. Particularly interesting are the lessons learned from a nonhuman primate model of polycystic ovary syndrome that revealed findings on fetal programming of adrenal androgen excess. All articles contain full references and the editors provide author and subject indices. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)