A novel compound heterozygous mutation of K494_V495 deletion plus R496L and D487_F489 deletion in extreme C-terminus of cytochrome P450c17 causes 17alpha-hydroxylase deficiency.

17alpha-Hydroxylase deficiency is a rare disease caused by mutation of the CYP17 gene, resulting in hypertension, hypokalemia, female sexual infantilism or male pseudohermaphroditism, low blood cortisol and low plasma renin activity. Herein, we report a female Taiwanese with 17alpha-hydroxylase deficiency. The CYP17 genes of this patient and five members of her family were analyzed by PCR-direct sequencing.