Chemotherapy Rather Than Demeclocycline for Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone

To the Editor: Recently, Forrest et al.¹ and De Troyer demonstrated that demeclocycline reverses the clinical manifestations and electrolyte abnormalities of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in 10 patients with small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma. Neither author commented on the efficacy of antineoplastic cytotoxic therapy in the treatment of the syndrome secondary to this neoplasm. Small-cell carcinoma is highly responsive to both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With current treatment programs over 90 per cent of patients will have an objective response.³ We have noted the syndrome as a presenting manifestation of small-cell lung cancer in seven patients. Each of.