URINARY EXCRETION OF 17-KETOSTEROIDS IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS OF OLIGOPHRENIA CORRELATED WITH SOME AUTOPSY OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

Twenty-four hr. urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids was studied in several conditions of mental deficiency with and without endocrine disorders. Urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion was found normal for familial morons of both sexes, consistent with normal adrenocortical and gon-adal activity. Myotonia dystrophica was found to be associated with a marked decrease in urinary 17-ketosteroids, consistent with the pathology. Three cretins and an hypo-thyroid patient had low 17-ketosteroid excretion, in line with previous reports in the literature of low androgens in hypo-thyroidism. Findings for 9 mongoloid patients were in agreement with those for 23 cases reported earlier. Mongoloid children and [female] mongoloids had avg. to high, or low 17-ketosteroid excretion. Mongoloid [male][male] of adult age have a 17-ketosteroid excretion in the [female] range, consistent with their known sexual immaturity. Autopsy findings were considered in relation to the 17-ketosteroid excretion and the significance of these observations was discussed.