Intermittent lowering of cortisol as treatment of clinical conditions associated with abnormal concentrations of cortisol in animals

摘要

Use of a compound of formula (I) or a 3-enol C_1-4 alkanoate ester thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the intermittent treatment of a condition of a human or non-human mammal in which said mammal has an abnormally high serum concentration of an adrenal hormone: Wherein R₁, R₂, R₅, and R₆ are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1 to 4? alkyl; R₃ is hydrogen C1 to 4? alkyl, C1 to 4? alkenyl or C1 to 4? alkynyl; R₄ is hydroxy, C1 to 4? alkanoyloxy, a group of formula (II) or (III) Wherein R₇ is (CH₂)_n, where n is an integer of from 0 to 4, R₈ is hydrogen, C1 to 4? alkyl, hydroxy or NH₂ and R₉ and R₁₀ are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1 to 4? Alkyl; or R₃ and R₄ together are oxo, ethylenedioxy or propylenedioxy. The invention has practical benefits for the treatment of man and other animals with diseases associated with abnormal production of adrenal steroids. The invention also shows that sustained suppression of the adrenal hormones is not required to achieve relief of symptoms in these conditions.;