The Use of Desoxycorticosterone and Its Esters in the Treatment of Addison's Disease

The isolation and synthesis of desoxycorticosterone by Reichstein¹and its successful application to the therapy of adrenal insufficiency by Thorn and his associates²have led naturally to the hope that this new synthetic preparation will bear the same relationship to the adrenal cortex and to Addison's disease that insulin has borne to the pancreas and to diabetes mellitus. The clinical studies of Cleghorn,³of Levy Simpson,⁴of Dryerre⁵and of Ferrebee, Ragan, Atchley and Loeb⁶have corroborated for the most part the therapeutic results of Thorn but have revealed, nevertheless, several complicating dangers in the use of this preparation which must necessarily receive further attention before desoxycorticosterone can safely be given unqualified endorsement for general use. Investigations by McCullagh,⁷by Thompson,⁸and by Rynearson⁹and Wilder¹⁰and their associates have likewise demonstrated serious difficulties arising out of the use of