Cortisone and corticotropin in allergic disease

Cortisone and corticotropin (ACTH) in adequate doses usually promptly relieve allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, atopic eczema, urticaria, drug reactions and poison oak and ivy dermatitis. However, as the symptoms recur upon discontinuance of the hormones, and longcontinued use entails certain hazards, it is necessary to determine the underlying allergic cause of the symptoms and to institute measures to overcome it. However, when adequate antiallergic treatment does not control symptoms, the continued use of small doses of these steroids or of larger doses for weeks or months in severe or intractable cases is justified. In the few cases in which prolonged use of these hormones is necessary, the patient ought to be told of the possible complications, of the expense of laboratory studies that must be carried out, and of the cost of the hormones.