Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome with Interrupted ACTH or Oral Cortisone Therapy.

Abstract

Lowering of serum complement during the edematous phase of the nephrotic syndrome is apparently the result of an antigen-antibody reaction. 24 to 48 hrs. preceding spontaneous or ACTH induced diuresis, serum complement rises significantly to or toward normal. ACTH, given for 7 days, effects clinical remissions which are only temporary in most cases. When the initial week of ACTH is followed by interrupted courses of ACTH given on 3 successive days of each week for 5 to 8 weeks, remissions have been long-lasting. Courses of interrupted therapy were continued until the complement level stabilized at avg. normal or high levels. Recent work suggests that if the initial treatment with ACTH is followed by interrupted courses of oral Cortisone, similar favorable results may be obtained.