Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
17-hydroxyprogesterone
A steroid hormone measured in newborn screening to detect congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Full Definition
17-hydroxyprogesterone is a steroid hormone that accumulates in the blood when certain enzymes needed for cortisol production are deficient. Elevated levels in dried blood spot screening indicate possible congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The measurement is particularly challenging due to stress-related elevations in premature infants and the need for gestational age-adjusted reference ranges.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as 17-OHP in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The 17-hydroxyprogesterone level was significantly elevated, requiring immediate follow-up for suspected CAH." — Laboratory report
- "Premature infants often show falsely elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone due to adrenal stress." — Clinical protocol
Also known as
17-OHP
Don't confuse with
17-hydroxypregnenolone
progesterone