[Disorders of electrolyte balance and metabolism in hormone-secreting bronchial cancer].

Four cases of bronchial carcinoma were observed which showed the picture of an ectopic ACTH-hormone syndrome. References to an endocrinopathy resulted from the hypopotassaemia and the metabolic alkalosis. Signs of Cushing's syndrome appeared only in one case. By disturbances of the electrolyte and acid-base-balance the functions of the skeletal and smooth musculature as well as of the heart muscle were much impaired. In two cases the clinical symptoms and the laboratory findings still before the manifestation of the bronchial carcinoma, in the third case simultaneously referred to the correct diagnosis. Due to the misleading cardiac findings and the fulminant course of the disease in the fourth case the diagnosis was clarified only by autopsy. the disturbances of the ion balance and of the metabolism had contributed to the respiratory insufficiency, had evoked disturbances of the cardiac rhythm and had unfavourably effected on the course of of the disease.