Treatment of Addison's Disease with Interrenalin (Adrenal Cortex Extract)

Abstract

The first demonstration that active endocrine material can be extracted from the adrenal cortex, and that it is capable of prolonging life and mitigating symptoms in completely adrenalectomized animals, was by Rogoff and Stewart (1) in 1925. Their experimental observations constitute the basis for the method that is now generally employed in the treatment of Addison's disease. The first demonstration that substantial benefit may be derived from administration of potent adrenal cortex extract, in Addison's disease, was published by the same authors (2), in 1929. Amelioration of symptoms was the outstanding observation in 7 patients that had been under treatment with interrenalin, in the form of an extract of adrenal cortex, for periods ranging from approximately 6 to 18 months. Other articles (3), were followed by a second report (4), in 1932, which included 14 additional cases together with further observations on the original 7. It was clearly shown, by comparison with a control group of 12 cases, that substitution therapy with interrenalin not only caused relief of symptoms but prolonged life in a large proportion of the treated cases.