Salt wasters will need careful monitoring and lifelong medication adjustment. Those with virilization without salt wasting will also need hormonal therapy to ensure normal growth, pubertal development and fertility. Individuals with non- classical CAH may also be identified by newborn screening and will need monitoring in childhood and may also need hormonal treatment as they grow older. Newborn screening done in the first 12 hours after birth is more likely to show high 17-OHP levels than screening done after the first day of life. It is important to have an accurate birth weight recorded on the collection form to assure appropriate screening results.
Fertility is usually normal.
A high 17-OHP is therefore less likely to indicate CAH in a premature infant. Repeat screens may be submitted.