EFFECT OF ACTH AND CORTISONE ON RHEUMATIC FEVER

Abstract
Two cases of acute rheumatic fever with pericarditis and 1 case of recurrent rheumatic fever with pancarditis were treated with ACTH. In 2 of the cases the clinical effect was remarkably good, but in the 3d case, where the patient had atypical rheumatic fever, the effect was more problematic. This patient was also treated with cortisone with no definite effect. In 2 cases the treatment was complicated by infection, possibly due to reduced resistance. In addition, wound healing was found to be impaired, and there was a parallel disappearance of hyaluronic acid from the connective tissue.