Abstract
The efficacy of the subcutaneous administration of dried posterior pituitary gland in diabetes insipidus has not been reported previously. Pellets of this material have been prepared and implanted subcutaneously into 4 cats with experimentally produced diabetes insipidus∗ and into 2 patients with diabetes insipidus. The results are shown in Table I. It is to be noted that mixing the material with tyrosine or impregnating the pellet with beeswax did not prolong the effect in the cats. An inflammatory reaction which occurred at the site of implantation of sterile pellets in the patients later required drainage. An attempt was made to prolong the action in man by impregnation of the pellets with lanolin or beeswax. The reaction which developed at the site of implantation was so severe that the pellets had to be removed before complete absorption occurred.
The above results demonstrate that pellets of dried posterior pituitary gland implanted subcutaneously control the manifestations of diabetes insipidus, but that this method is not applicable for treatment in man. For this reason pitressin tannatef in oil was employed. This material was administered to 3 cats with experimentally produced diabetes insipidus and to 3 patients with the syndrome. In the cats 1.0 cc ameliorated the manifestations for 3 to 7 days and in man for 30 to 82 hours. There were no unpleasant or deleterious general or local reactions. The symptoms of the disease have been controlled in the 3 patients by the subcutaneous injection of 1.0 cc every 36 to 57 hours.
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