CUSHING'S SYNDROME INTERPRETED AS HYPERADRENOCORTICISM LEADING TO HYPERGLUCONEOGENESIS: RESULTS OF TREATMENT WITH TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE1

Abstract

Testosterone propionate therapy in 3 cases of Cushing''s syndrome, without adrenal cancer, resulted in prompt retention of N (about 20 g. in 5 days), prompt retention of P, the ratio of retained N to retained P being approx. their ratio in protein, a gradually decreasing urinary Ca excretion, with a gradually increasing Ca balance, a delayed rise in serum phosphatase level. Associated with the marked N retention were the following clinical changes: increase in strength and wt., decrease in redness of the skin and loss of easy bruisability. Estradiol benzoate did not beneficially alter the N, P or Ca balances, nor in conjunction with testosterone did it alter the beneficial effect of that agent alone. Progesterone had a slightly beneficial effect but it was much inferior to testosterone.