Effect of Continued Desoxycorticosterone Administration in Hypertensive Subjects.

Abstract

The daily injn. of desoxycorticosterone acetate in 5 patients with uncomplicated hypertensive vascular disease for periods of 30 days or more produced a transitory rise in "resting" blood pressure in all instances, and a sustained increase during the period of drug admn. in 3 of 5 subjects. The continued injn. of desoxycorticosterone acetate was associated with a progressive drop in serum K concn., an increase in CO2 content and a fall in chloride concn. Salt and water retention was observed only during the first 7-10 days of treatment, with reversal to control levels thereafter. The pressor action of desoxycorticosterone acetate did not appear to be due to a direct humoral mechanism dependent on its concn. in the circulation.