EXTREME VIRILIZATION IN PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL ADRENAL-HYPERPLASIA FAILS TO INDUCE DESCENT OF THE OVARY

Abstract

The commonly held hypothesis that androgens cause testicular descent in the male [9] predicts that excess endogeous androgens in the female fetus might cause descent of the ovary. To re-evaluate this prediction from a clinical perspective, a retrospective review was made of genotypic females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and severe virilization. Patients with maximal virilization were included, since this is the group with the earlies and highest production of adrenal androgens during fetal development. Records were reviewed of five children in whom the external genitalia were completely or almost completely masculinized, who had been regarded as "males with undescended testes" at birt..