PULMONARY FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH
TREATED WITH ACTH
B. G.
J.

PULMONARY DISEASE

FERRIS Jr., M.D.

E. AFFELDT, M.D.

H. A.

KRIETE, A.B.
AND

J.

L. WHITTENBERGER, M.D.
BOSTON

HE STRIKING therapeutic effectiveness of ACTH in many diseases,
especially those involving granulation tissue and inflammatory reactions, sug­
gested the desirability of evaluating its effects on several types of pulmonary disease.
Since this study was initiated a number of other workers have reported the effects
of ACTH therapy on pulmonary granulomatosis *1 and other chronic pulmonary
diseases.2
The purpose of this report is to present data on pulmonary function as affected
by single or multiple courses of ACTH or cortisone therapy in three patients with
pulmonary granulomatosis of beryllium workers, in two patients with pulmonary
fibrosis (apparently due to talc in one) and in one patient with emphysema due to
chronic asthma.3 The diagnosis of beryllium intoxication was made on the basis
of history of exposure, typical roentgenographic changes in the lungs, a history of
chronic lung disease and the exclusion of other types of lung disease.

T

. From the Department of Physiology, Harvard School of Public Health.
Read at a meeting sponsored by the Occupational Medical Clinic at the Massachusetts
General Hospital, Boston, Dec. 13, 1950.
This work was aided by a contract between the Medical Division, Chemical Corps, United
States Army, and Harvard University, and by a grant from the National Institute of Health
to Dr. Harriet L. Hardy, chief, Occupational Medical Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital.
1. (o) Kennedy, B. J.; Pare, J. A. P.; Pump, K. K., and Stanford, R. L.: The Effect of
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) on Beryllium Granulomatosis, Canad. M. A. J. 62:426,
1950. (b) Kennedy, B. J.; Pare, J. A. P.; Pump, K! K.; Beck, J. C.; Johnson, L. G.; Epstein,
N. B.; Venning, E. H., and Browne, J. S. L.: Effect of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
on Beryllium Granulomatosis and Silicosis, Am. J. Med. 10:134, 1951.
2. Thorn, G. W.; Forsham, P. H.; Frawley, T. F.; Hill, S. R., Jr. ; Roche, M.; Staehelin,
D., and Wilson, D. L.: The Clinical Usefulness of ACTH and Cortisone, New England J. Med.
242:783, 1950. West. J. R.; McClement, J. H.; Carroll, D.; Bliss, H. A.; Kuschner, M.;
Richards, D. W., Jr., and Cournand, A.: Effects of Cortisone and ACTH, in Cases of
Chronic Pulmonary Disease with Impairment of Alveolar-Capillary Diffusion, Am. J; Med.
10:156, 1951. Galdston, M.; Weisenfeld, S.; Benjamin, B., and Rosenbluth, M. B.: Effect
of ACTH in Chronic Lung Disease: A Study of 5 Patients, ibid. 10:166, 1951. Herschfus,
J. A. ; Levinson, L., and Segal, M.:
ACTH Therapy in Bronchial Asthma: Histamine and
Methacholine Tolerance in the Acute Experiment and During Prolonged Treatment, Bull. New
England M. Center 12:139, 1950.
3. Five patients were hospitalized at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital; and were studied
through the courtesy of Dr. George W. Thorn.
. .
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