USE OF DELTA5-ANDROSTENE-3BETA-OL-7,17-DIONE IN THE TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS

摘要

Arthritis can be treated by administering therapeutic amounts of DELTA 5-androstene-3 beta -ol-7,17-dione and metabolizable precursors thereof, such as DELTA 5-androstene-3 beta -acetoxy-7,17-dione, which are readily metabolized in vivo to DELTA 5-androstene-3 beta -ol-7,17-dione but are not appreciably metabolizable in vivo to androgens, estrogens or dehydroepiandrosterone. Such treatment can be prophylactic, ameliorative or curative in nature.