A. Grollman
Dec 1, 1941
Citations
0
Influential Citations
1
Citations
Journal
Endocrinology
Abstract
DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE is NOW generally recognized as a valuable agent for use as a replacement therapy in adrenal cortical insufficiency. When originally introduced, it was believed by many to be identical with the naturally occurring hormone, but this view is no longer tenable, for a) it fails to remedy all the deficiencies induced by adrenalectomy; b) it is much less potent (per unit of weight) than the naturally occurring hormone and c) it exerts certain actions not shared by concentrates of extracts derived from adrenal glands (1, 2). There exist certain discrepancies between the results of different authors regard-ing several fundamental properties of desoxycorticosterone and salt therapy in ad-renal cortical insufficiency.Except for the earlier claim (1) of the effectiveness of desoxycorticosterone when administered orally, most investigators have insisted on the necessity of parenteral administration. This is an important problem from a practical standpoint.