USE OF 2-ALPHA-CYANO-4-ALPHA, 5-ALPHA-EPOXYANDROSTAN-17-BETA-OL-3-ONE DERIVATIVES FOR LOWERING LEVELS OF SERUM CORTISOL AND FOR THE TREATMENT OF CLINICAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED THEREOF

摘要

Use of a compound of formula (I) or a 3-enol C1-4 alkanoate ester thereof inthe manufacture of a medicament for the intermittent treatment of a conditionof a human or non-human mammal in which said mammal has an abnormally highserum concentration of an adrenal hormone: Wherein R1, R2, R5, and R6 are thesame or different and each is hydrogen or C1 to 4 alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, C1 to4 alkyl, C1 to 4 alkenyl or C1 to 4 alkynyl; R4, is hydroxy, C1 to 4alkanoyloxy, a group of formula (II) or (III) Wherein R7 is (CH2)n, where n isan integer of from 0 to 4, R8 is hydrogen, C1 to 4 alkyl, hydroxy or NH2 andR9 and R10 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C1 to 4 Alkyl; orR3 and R4 together are oxo, ethylenedioxy or propylenedioxy. The invention haspractical benefits for the treatment of man and other animals with diseasesassociated with abnormal production of adrenal steroids. The invention alsoshows that sustained suppression of the adrenal hormones is not required toachieve relief of symptoms in these conditions.