Val mentioned that the abstract was abreviated and alluded you do not have the summary portion. This is the in summary portion at the end of the paper.

In summary, in patients with classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency, hydrocortisone replacement therapy should be administered during the period of increased HPA activity, between 0400-1600h.  The biggest dose should be given in the morning because circulating cortisol concentrations attained after evening doses are likely to be undetectable by the time of the rapid rise in 170HP concentrations at 0400h. Blood investigations performed as part of monitoring of CAH patients should include androstenedione and 170HP concentrations obtained in the morning before oral dose of hydrocortisone is given. However, it should be emphasised that blood investigations are only complementary to the overall assessment of these patients, which is primarily based on the evaluation of growth and pubertal progress.

36 patients took part in the study, 13 male and 23 females between 6.1-18.8yrs. 14 prepubertal and 19 pubertal. 22 were on 2x dosing with biggest dose in the morning and 14 were 3x dosing. During the study the 2x dosing was 9am and 2100h and 3x at 8am,1500 and 2200h.. The patients were split into to groups. Group 1. 8 on 2x and 9 on 3x with group 2. 14 on 2x and 5 on 3x..

I find it interesting(puzzling?) that the majority of patients were on a 2x a day dosing with the intention of having cortisol in place to counter the am androgen secretion but the study did not conduct the study around 2x vs 3x and compare the results to see with acheived the best control. I have only read through the paper and have not studied it so if you have any specific questions I will try to answer them as best I can. Unfortunetely, I do not have a scanner but will try to get it on the computer somehow and could probably e-mail copies but I do not know how copyright works on the net! TC

ShaunP.