Effect of Adrenal Cortical Extract, Desoxycorticosterone, and Added Potassium upon Electrolyte Balance in Normals and in Addison's Disease

Abstract

Normal subjects and patients with Addison''s disease were studied with a high NaCl and low K intake to ascertain the difference in response to adm. of adrenal cortical extract, desoxycorticosterone, added K and simultaneously administered cortical extract and extra K, as possible diagnostic methods. There was no difference in the response to desoxycorticosterone. Normal subjects and patients with saturated Na stores stored less Na following adm. of added K, but there was no effect in patients with unsaturated Na stores. The patients stored more of the added K than did normals. The addition of adrenal cortical extract in doses employed lessened, but did not prevent the effects of the added K. The differences in response were too large to be of diagnostic value. The difference in response to adrenal cortical extract, however, may be a safe and specific diagnostic procedure. The patients did not store any more Na, whereas the normals stored Na following the adm. of adrenal cortical extract.