The Effect of Adrenocortical and Androgenic Steroid

termine whether combined adrenocortical-androgenic steroid therapy would potentiate the patient response to chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis. Although spread or reactivation of a tuberculous process has been attributed to the administration of corticosteroids alone, there is evidence that when properly administered in the presence of adequate antibiotic coverage, steroid hormones do not enhance dissemination. One of the present authors’ has commented on the advantages of combined steroid-chemotherapy in tuberculous patients exhibiting severe, untoward drug reactions to one or more of the available anti-tuberculosis agents. The corticoids used in these cases had no harmful effect on the underlying tuberculous process, as evidenced in serial roentgenologic exansination of the chest, and also in sputum cultures over a period of 21 to 28 months following