The prevention of ACTH-induced sodium retention by the use of potassium salts: a quantitative study.

Administration of large doses of either corticotropin (ACTH) (1) or tie adrenal steroids (2-5) to human subjects ordinarily results in an initial phase of sodium retention which is often accompanied by increased excretion of potassium in the urine and by a decrease in intracellular potassium (6). In order to minimize potassium depletion, it has become common practice to add supplements of potassium salts to the diets of patients receiving large doses of ACTH or cortisone. The use of such supplements was also found to be extremely effective in overcoming the sodium retention induced by ACTH and by cortisone (7). The present study was designed to clarify the mechanism of the sodium diuresis which follows the ingestion of large amounts of potassium salts.