DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERCHOLESTEREMIA DURING CORTISONE AND ACTH THERAPY

This study is concerned with the development of hypercholesteremia during cortisone and pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy. It represents a continuation of previous observations on the effect of these hormones on serum lipids in man. In patients given cortisone a consistent elevation of the total serum cholesterol, esterified cholesterol and phospholipids was noted, whereas in those given pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone less uniform and pronounced alterations were observed.1 The patients reported here include those of the previous group who have undergone prolonged hormonal therapy as well as an additional number of treated patients. The factor of prolonged therapy assumes a particular importance because of the increased availability of these drugs. It may be expected that many patients with chronic diseases will now receive long courses of cortisone and pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy. During treatment with these drugs, especially when it was of prolonged duration, there developed in a number of