SKIN COMPLICATIONS OF CORTISONE AND ACTH THERAPY

Abstract

At the present time the therapeutic status of cortisone and pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is being evaluated by scientific studies in many institutions. The following report is a brief summary of the skin complications observed in patients treated with ACTH at the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York.¹ <h3>REPORT OF CASES</h3><h3>Case 1.—</h3> S. L., a 17 year old girl, was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital with chief complaints of polyarthritis, intermittent "sore throat," fever and cervical adenopathy of one month's duration. The patient also had facial erythema with butterfly distribution for one year. Laboratory findings included anemia, increased sedimentation rate, reversal of the albuminglobulin ratio, hematuria and albuminuria. Lupus erythematosus cells were demonstrated in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. On the basis of these findings, the diagnosis of acute disseminated lupus erythematosus was made. ACTH was prescribed for the patient, with an initial dose of 100 mg. This