Is There a Potent, Naturally Occurring Sodium-Losing Steroid Hormone?

Abstract

ACTH did not significantly affect serum sodium concentration or body weight in 6 patients with the sodium-losing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia; it produced minimal increases in urinary sodium. There is no conclusive evidence that a sodium-losing steroid is secreted in this syndrome. 3α,16α-Dihydroxy-5β-pregnane-20-one caused delayed sterile abscess formation but no systemic fever. 3α,16α-Dihydroxy-5β-pregnane-20-one, 3β,16α-dihydroxy-Δ⁵-pregnene-20-one and 16α-hydroxy progesterone were tested for renal sodium-losing potency in man. Progesterone was also given as a standard for comparison. Progesterone had weak sodium-losing potency, 16α-hydroxy progesterone had minimal potency and the other 2 steroids had none. There is no known potent naturally occurring sodium-losing steroid.