Method for treating central nervous system ischemia

• US 5,571,840 A
• Filed: 06/06/1994
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knoll Pharmaceutical Company (Abbvie Incorporated), Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Knoll Pharmaceutical Company (Abbvie Incorporated), Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: D'Alecy, Louis G., Mayor, Gilbert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spivack, Phyllis G.
• Application Number:
  US08/254,417
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 514/567
• US Class Current: 514/567
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/195 having an amino group
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/12 for decreasing, blocking or antagonising the activity of the posterior pituitary hormones
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis

Abstract

Central nervous system ischemia in a patient who has suffered an acute insult is treated by administering an effective amount of a thyroid hormone selected from the group levothyroxine, liothyronine, L-3,3'"'"',5'"'"'-triiodothyronine or L-3,5-diiodothyronine, or their sodium salts. The treatment is particularly applicable to the treatment of cerebral ischemia following cardiac arrest.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient suffering from central nervous system ischemia resulting from an acute insult, comprising administering an effective amount of levothyroxine to the patient as a bolus dose and/or continuous infusion at a time consisting of after ischemia has occurred.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein levothyroxine is administered in the form of its sodium salt.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein levothyroxine or its sodium salt is continuously administered in an amount which lies in the range about 0.1 to 15 μ

g/kg/hr.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the amount of levothyroxine which is continuously administered lies in the range about 0.5 to about 10 μ

g/kg/hr.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the amount of levothyroxine which is continuously administered lies in the range about 1 to about 4 μ

g/kg/hr.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an initial bolus dose of levothyroxine is administered to the patient before the initiation of the continuous infusion of levothyroxine.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the levothyroxine comprising the bolus dose is levothyroxine sodium.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the levothyroxine or its sodium salt comprising the initial bolus dose lies in the range about 500 μ

g to about 5000 μ

g.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein levothyroxine or its sodium salt is continuously administered in an amount which lies in the range about 0.1 to about 15 μ

g/kg/hr.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the amount of levothyroxine which is continuously administered lies in the range about 0.5 to about 10 μ

g/kg/hr.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the amount of levothyroxine which is continuously administered lies in the range about 1 to about 4 μ

g/kg/hr.