17-OHP
Pronunciation: seventeen-oh-H-P
Also written as: 17-OHP — 17-hydroxyprogesterone
17-hydroxyprogesterone, a steroid hormone measured in newborn screening to detect congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Full Definition
17-hydroxyprogesterone is an intermediate metabolite in the cortisol synthesis pathway that becomes elevated when 21-hydroxylase enzyme activity is deficient, as occurs in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In newborn screening, 17-OHP levels are measured from dried blood spots using immunoassays. Elevated levels trigger follow-up testing and clinical evaluation, though false positives can occur due to prematurity, stress, or other factors affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Usage
Usage note: Use hyphens in 17-OHP. The 'OH' represents hydroxyl group and should be capitalized.
In Context
- "The 17-OHP concentration exceeded the screening cutoff, prompting immediate pediatric endocrinology referral." — Laboratory report
- "Premature infants often have physiologically elevated 17-OHP levels that normalize with maturation." — Clinical interpretation guideline