Description
A steroid hormone that is produced as part of the process of making the hormone cortisol. This test measures the amount of 17-OHP in the blood to detect and/or evaluate congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an inherited condition that results in decreased adrenal cortisol and aldosterone and increased male sex hormone (androgen) production. 17-OHP is derived from cholesterol. It is not an active steroid hormone, but is a precursor that can be converted to active hormones.
