Testicular adrenal rest tumors and Leydig and Sertoli cell function in boys with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Abstract

Context: Infertility observed in adult males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) has been associated with testicular adrenal rest tumors (TART) that may originate during childhood. Objective: Our objective was to describe the prevalence of TART and Sertoli and Leydig cell function in a group of boys aged 2-10 yr with CAH and to compare prevalence with that of a control group. Design: From August 2005 to January 2007, 19 patients with classical CAH (CAH group) were referred from seven endocrinology centers. Methods: We studied 19 subjects in the CAH group and, as a control group, 13 boys from the community that did not have testicular diseases. A complete physical exam was performed. High-resolution ultrasound was used to determine TART prevalence. Inhibin B and anti-Müllerian hormone were used as Sertoli cell markers. The ratio between basal testosterone levels and testosterone levels 72 h after β-human chorionic gonadotropin (5000 U/m2) treatment [(T72- T 0)/T0] was used to eval