THE EFFECT OF THE PARENTERAL INJECTION OF EPINEPHRIN ON LEUKOCYTE COUNTS IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND IN PATIENTS WITH ADDISON’S DISEASE

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Abstract
Ten normal subjects and 11 patients with Addison’s disease were studied as to their leukocyte response following the subcutaneous administration of epinephrin. The pattern of response was found to be similar in both groups, diphasic curves being noted. In general, the patients with Addison’s disease differ from normal individuals in having: (1) a lower and less labile white count, (2) a lower and less labile neutrophile count, (3) a higher lymphocyte count, (4) a slightly lesser percentage fall in absolute number of lymphocytes, and (5) a higher lymphocyte percentage. The use of this method to demonstrate adrenal cortical destruction is not feasible with the dosage of epinephrin employed in this study.