The electrocardiogram and potassium metabolism during administration of ACTH, cortisone, and desoxycorticosterone acetate.

Abstract The electrocardiogram and the potassium metabolism were studied in cases of rheumatoid arthritis during administration of ACTH, cortisone and desoxycorticosterone acetate. ACTH protein (Li) was given in daily doses of 13 to 80 mg. for ten to twenty-two days, 200 mg. of cortisone per day was given for twenty-eight and seventy-six days, and desoxycorticosterone acetate in daily doses of 20 and 30 mg. for forty-three, sixty and thirty-four days. A significant decrease in the plasma potassium level to hypokalemic values was obtained. The change of intracellular potassium, not accounted for by changes in protoplasm, was not larger than 10 per cent of total body potassium. No typical hypokalemic electrocardiograms were observed. There was no correlation between changes in the electrocardiograms and the plasma potassium level.