ACTH and Cortisone in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

THE extensive employment of ACTH and cortisone in the treatment of idiopathic ulcerative colitis has now been fully reported.1 2 3 4 5 6 The general experience has been that these hormones are initially and often strikingly effective in suppressing the secondary symptoms and toxic effects of this disease. Most observers, however, have also noted that cessation of such therapy is followed by a disappointing recurrence of symptoms. Apparently, short-term therapy does not reverse the underlying pathologic process.The short-term use (three months or less) of ACTH in the medical management of 33 patients with ulcerative colitis has previously been reported by Elliott, Kiefer and . . .