Methods of treating hepatitis

• US 20040052866A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Yale University
• Original Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: Otterbein, Leo E., Zuckerbraun, Brian, Choi, Augustine M. K.
• Application Number:
  US10/439,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20040052866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/699
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/16 for liver or gallbladder disorders, e.g. hepatoprotective agents, cholagogues, litholytics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/14 for RNA viruses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of treating hepatitis in a patient, which includes administering a pharmaceutical composition that includes carbon monoxide to the patient.

Claims

1. A method of treating hepatitis in a patient, comprising:

identifying a patient diagnosed as suffering from hepatitis; and

administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of carbon monoxide effective to treat hepatitis in the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is in gaseous form and is administered to the patient by inhalation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is in liquid form and is administered to the patient orally.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered directly to the abdominal cavity of the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient is infected with a virus selected from the group consisting of:

hepatitis A virus;

hepatitis B virus;

hepatitis C virus;

hepatitis D virus;

hepatitis E virus; and

hepatitis G virus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient is an alcoholic.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering to the patient a treatment selected from the group consisting of:

withholding or reducing administration of hepatitis-inducing drugs; and

administering corticosteroids or antiviral agents to the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by artificial lung.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by an extracorporeal membrane gas exchange device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the hepatitis is caused by exposure to a hepatotoxic agent.

11. A method of treating hepatitis in a patient, comprising:

(a) identifying a patient suffering from or at risk for hepatitis;

(b) providing a vessel containing a pressurized gas comprising carbon monoxide gas;

(c) releasing the pressurized gas from the vessel, to form an atmosphere comprising carbon monoxide gas; and

(d) exposing the patient to the atmosphere, wherein the amount of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere is sufficient to treat hepatitis in the patient.

12. A method of administering a hepatotoxic drug to a patient, comprising:

(a) administering the hepatotoxic drug to the patient; and

(b) before, during, or after step (a), administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising carbon monoxide in an amount effective to treat hepatitis in the patient.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein carbon monoxide is administered before step (a).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein carbon monoxide is administered during step (a).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein carbon monoxide is administered after step (a).

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the hepatotoxic drug is selected from the group consisting of:

isoniazid, methyldopa, acetaminophen, amiodarone, and nitrofurantoin.

17. A vessel comprising medical grade compressed carbon monoxide gas, the vessel bearing a label indicating that the gas can be used to treat hepatitis in a patient.

18. The vessel of claim 17, wherein the carbon monoxide gas is in admixture with an oxygen-containing gas.

19. The vessel of claim 17, wherein the carbon monoxide gas is present in the admixture at a concentration of at least about 0.025%.

20. The vessel of claim 17, wherein the carbon monoxide gas is present in the admixture at a concentration of at least about 0.05%.

21. The vessel of claim 17, wherein the carbon monoxide gas is present in the admixture at a concentration of at least about 0.10%.

22. The vessel of claim 17, wherein the carbon monoxide gas is present in the admixture at a concentration of at least about 1.0%.

23. The vessel of claim 17, wherein the carbon monoxide gas is present in the admixture at a concentration of at least about 2.0%.

24. The vessel of claim 17, wherein the label further indicates that the gas can be administered to a patient in conjunction with administration of a hepatotoxic drug.

25. A vessel comprising medical grade compressed carbon monoxide gas, the vessel bearing a label indicating that the gas can be administered to a patient in conjunction with administration of a hepatotoxic drug.

26. A method of treating hepatitis in a patient, the method comprising:

identifying a patient suffering from or at risk for hepatitis not caused by surgery or endotoxin; and

administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of carbon monoxide effective to treat hepatitis in the patient.