 11-Deoxycortisol acts as a glucocorticoid, though is less potent than cortisol.It can be synthesized from 17α-hydroxyprogesterone.In 11β-hydroxylase deficiency, 11-deoxycortisol levels increase dramatically, causing hypertension (as opposed to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, in which patients have low blood pressure from a lack of mineralocorticoids).