SOME EFFECTS OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE IN VARIOUS HYPO-OVARIAN STATES: I. SECONDARY AMENORRHEA*

Abstract

In 12 young women with secondary amenorrhea and 1 woman with excessive uterine bleeding the excretion of various urinary metabolites and steroid hormones was studied during the admn. of ACTH for 6-10 days periods. Uterine bleeding followed therapy in 9 of the 13 patients, but probably in only 2 of these should the bleeding be attributed to treatment with ACTH. No patient showing clinical evidence of severe ovarian failure bled following treatment with ACTH. In 10 of the 13 patients, crude urinary pregnanediol was increased during treatment with ACTH, reaching a level of 13 mg./24 hrs. in 1 case. The metabolic effects of ACTH on the urinary excretion of N, P, K, Na and Cl were similar to those reported by others.