The Effect of Prolonged Corticotropin Therapy For Rheumatic Fever on the Exchangeable Sodium Content and Body Weight

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Abstract
Serial measurements of the body weight and the exchangeable sodium content were made in young patients with acute rheumatic fever who were being treated with large doses of corticotropin. All but one subject developed the clinical signs of hyperadrenalism. Eight of the 11 subjects showed at least a 20 per cent increase in body weight which could not be explained on the basis of the changes in exchangeable sodium content. This change in body composition is thought to be due primarily to an increase in total body fat.