THE HORMONES corticotropin and cortisone have proved helpful in several diseases of the skin, notably acute lupus erythematosus disseminatus, pemphigus, scleroderma, psoriasis, atopic eczema, and chronic urticaria.1 The beneficial effects, however, last as long as the hormones are administered, and, furthermore, there are many undesirable and serious side-effects. They are expensive.
Recently, ``marisone,'' a new drug for investigational use, became available. It is a steroid complex derived from pregnant mares' urine and from which the estrogenic conjugates have been removed.
Jaros and Spielman2 have shown that ``marisone'' was well tolerated and is nontoxic when administered for prolonged periods in cases of bronchial asthma. ``Marisone'' was found to decrease the blood eosinophilia, increase the vital capacity, and clinically affect the asthma favorably. Its effects were therefore similar to those of the adrenal corticoids. We therefore decided to try ``marisone'' in those dermatoses that were reported