Acidifying and non-acidifying carboxylic resin mixtures used alone and with ACTH or cortisone.

Evidence has been presented indicating that a sufficient intake of a carboxylic cation exchanger in the potassium cycle increases the stool output of sodium in absolute as well as in relative terms (1-4). Two other findings accompanying the use of this form of the resin are noteworthy: a) a significant proportion of the potassium taken with or as part of the resin can be retained in the body and b) ingestion of this particular resin does not produce acidosis. Its efficiency in removing sodium is probably not as great, however, as that of either the hydrogen or the ammonium forms of the resin, each of which interferes with potassium absorption and induces a metabolic acidosis. The first half of this paper deals with findings observed during the simultaneous administration of the two types of resin in equal proportions, i.e., potassium cycle mixed with either the hydrogen or the ammonium cycle, as well as in mixtures in which the acidifying resin predominated. The second half of this report describes results obtained during the use of resin mixtures with ACTH or cortisone or both. The expanding recourse to adrenal cortical effects in the therapy of a wide variety of disease states (5-7) has further emphasized that prolonged therapy is frequently not possible because of two particularly undesirable concomitants, i.e., sodium retention and potassium depletion. It seems probable that these side effects by necessitating interruption or intermittency of treatment deprive patients of benefits which might be otherwise obtainable. The combined resin and steroid or hormone studies herein presented describe attempts at prevention or deferment of such deviations in cation metabolism.