congenital adrenal hyperplasia
noun
: any of several disorders that are marked by an inadequate synthesis of cortisol and often aldosterone, are typically characterized by excessive production of androgens, virilization of female external genitalia, and hypertension, and include a severe form resulting in dangerously low levels of sodium and high levels of potassium in the blood shortly after birth —abbreviation CAH
Note: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait requiring that both parents pass on a copy of the defective gene on a chromosome other than a sex chromosome.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web There is fierce disagreement among doctors and advocates over whether surgical delays should extend to those with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. 
NBC News, 26 Oct. 2021 One fascinating example comes from the work of neuroscientist Melissa Hines, who studied girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a condition in which intersex traits arise in XX females because of unusually high levels of androgens. Grace Huckins, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021 Cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, thalassemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which leads to an overproduction of male hormones, are some of the diseases which can now be predicted by NIPT, according to Lo. Julie Zaugg, CNN, 13 Oct. 2019 This can also happen with other health conditions like Cushing’s syndrome or congenital adrenal hyperplasia, so doctors will try to rule out other health conditions before assuming excess androgen points to PCOS. Mary Claire Lagroue, SELF, 12 Sep. 2019
NBC News, 26 Oct. 2021 One fascinating example comes from the work of neuroscientist Melissa Hines, who studied girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a condition in which intersex traits arise in XX females because of unusually high levels of androgens. Grace Huckins, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021 Cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, thalassemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which leads to an overproduction of male hormones, are some of the diseases which can now be predicted by NIPT, according to Lo. Julie Zaugg, CNN, 13 Oct. 2019 This can also happen with other health conditions like Cushing’s syndrome or congenital adrenal hyperplasia, so doctors will try to rule out other health conditions before assuming excess androgen points to PCOS. Mary Claire Lagroue, SELF, 12 Sep. 2019 Word History
First Known Use
1949, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
congenital adrenal hyperplasia
noun
: any of several hereditary disorders that are marked by inadequate synthesis of cortisol and often aldosterone, are typically characterized by excessive production of androgens, virilization of female external genitalia, and hypertension, and include a severe form resulting in potentially fatal hyponatremia and hyperkalemia shortly after birth
Note: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait requiring that both parents pass on a copy of the defective gene on a chromosome other than a sex chromosome.
Girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia may emerge from the womb looking like boys, with an enlarged clitoris and even a scrotal sac, although they have fully formed ovaries and uterus. Natalie Angier, The New York Times
—abbreviation CAH Natalie Angier, The New York Times