WATER RETENTION FOLLOWING CORTISONE THERAPY

Abstract

To the Editor:— Dr.Archer's letter ( J. A. M. A. 143 :570 [June 10] 1950) was of interest to us as we have been treating patients with cirrhosis of the liver with cortisone with a fixed regimen in a metabolic ward. Cortisone, 100 mg., has been given for 18 days to 3 patients. These patients all retained water during treatment, and their livers became extremely hard and somewhat larger than during the pretreatment period. When cortisone therapy was stopped, the livers returned to previous size and consistency within 10 days. Liver function tests (sulfobromophthalein sodium, bilirubin, cholinesterase activity, gamma globulin, thymol turbidity, zinc sulfate turbidity, cephalin-cholesterol flocculation, prothrombin time) showed no remarkable changes. Unfortunately, we were unable to take liver biopsy specimens from these patients. We suspect the swelling to be due to water retention, but the possibility exists that fat deposition occurred. There was no change in fasting blood glucose