Modified-release hydrocortisone in congenital 1 adrenal hyperplasia

Background: Standard glucocorticoid therapy in congenital adrenal hyperplasia regularly fails to control androgen excess, causing glucocorticoid over-exposure and poor health outcomes. We investigated whether modified-release hydrocortisone (MR-HC), which mimics physiologic cortisol secretion, could improve disease control. Methods: 6-month randomized phase III study, MR-HC versus standard glucocorticoid, followed by single-arm MR-HC extension study. Primary outcomes were change in 24-hour standard deviation score (SDS) of androgen precursor 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) for phase III, and efficacy, safety and tolerability of MR-HC for the extension study. Results: The phase III study recruited 122 adult CAH patients. While the study failed its primary outcome at 6 months, there was evidence of better biochemical control on MR-HC, with lower 17OHP SDS at 4 (P=0.007) and 12 (P=0.019) weeks, and between 07:00h to 15:00h (P=0.044) at 6 months. The percentage of patients with controlled 09:00h serum 17OHP (<1200 ng/dl) was 52% at baseline, at 6 months 91% for MR-HC and 71% for standard therapy (P=0.002), and 80% for MR-HC at 18 months extension. The median daily hydrocortisone dose was 25mg at baseline, at 6 months 31mg for standard therapy and 30mg for MR-HC, and after 18 months 20mg MR-HC. Three adrenal crises occurred in phase III, none on MR-HC and 4 in extension study. MR-HC resulted in patient-reported benefit including menses restoration in eight patients (one on standard therapy), and 3 patient and 4 partner pregnancies (none on standard therapy). Conclusion: MR-HC improved biochemical disease control in adults with reduction in steroid dose over time and patient-reported benefit.