Urinary Excretion of Certain Amino Acids During ACTH and Cortisone Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Abstract

Rheuma-toid arthritis patients, controlled metabolically, were treated with ACTH and Cortisone. Free amino acids were detd. micro-biologically on 24-hr. urine specimens. A highly significant increase in free threonine, lysine, and tyrosine occurred with ACTH treatment, regardless of supplementary medication. Max. 24-hr. excretion of threonine and lysine by Cortisone-treated patients was significantly higher than controls. Arginine excretion was not affected. Clinical improvement was both subjective and objective. Whether the increased urinary excretion of certain amino acids is directly associated with the remission of rheumatoid arthritis is not known.