METHODS OF TREATING HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of decreasing blood ammonia levels in a subject comprising:
- administering to the subject an effective amount of rifaximin, thereby reducing ammonia blood levels.
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Abstract
Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy using gastrointestinal specific antibiotics is disclosed. One example of a gastrointestinal specific antibiotic is rifaximin. The instant application also provides methods for determining if a subject has a neurological condition or hepatic encephalopathy by determining the critical flicker frequency and/or the venous ammonia level of the subject at two or more time points. The further provided are methods for treating these subjects.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A method of decreasing blood ammonia levels in a subject comprising:
administering to the subject an effective amount of rifaximin, thereby reducing ammonia blood levels.
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2-4. -4. (canceled)
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5. A method of decreasing fatigue in a subject having hepatic encephalopathy comprising:
administering to the subject an effective amount of rifaximin, thereby reducing fatigue in a subject.
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6. A method for treating a subject having HE, comprising:
administering a GI specific antibiotic with lactulose, thereby treating a subject having HE. - View Dependent Claims (9, 15)
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7. (canceled)
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8. (canceled)
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10-14. -14. (canceled)
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16. A method of diagnosing hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in a subject comprising:
- determining the critical flicker frequency (CFF) of a subject at two or more time points, wherein a decrease in the CFF is indicative that the subject has hepatic encephalopathy.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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19. A method of determining a subject'"'"'s risk of an HE breakthrough event, comprising:
determining the critical flicker frequency (CFF) of a subject at two or more time points, wherein a decrease in the CFF is indicative that the subject has an increased risk of an HE breakthrough event. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of determining the prognosis of a subject having HE, comprising:
determining the critical flicker frequency (CFF) of a subject at two or more time points, wherein a decrease in the CFF is indicative that the subject has a poor prognosis. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of treating or preventing an HE event, comprising:
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determining the critical flicker frequency (CFF) of a subject at two or more time points, administering to a subject having a decrease in the CFF average between the time points an effective amount of a GI specific antibiotic, thereby treating or preventing an HE event. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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36. A method of diagnosing hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in a subject comprising:
determining the venous ammonia levels of a subject at two or more time points, wherein an increase in the venous ammonia levels is indicative that the subject has hepatic encephalopathy. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 50, 51, 52)
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39-44. -44. (canceled)
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45. A method of treating or preventing an HE event, comprising:
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determining the venous ammonia level of a subject at two or more time points, administering to a subject having an increase in the venous ammonia level between the time points an effective amount of a GI specific antibiotic, thereby treating or preventing an HE event. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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53-57. -57. (canceled)
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58. A method of diagnosing a neurological disease in a subject, comprising:
determining the critical flicker frequency (CFF) of a subject at two or more time points, wherein a decrease in the CFF is indicative that the subject has a neurological disease. - View Dependent Claims (60)
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59. (canceled)
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61. A method of determining the prognosis of a subject having a neurological disease, comprising:
determining the critical flicker frequency (CFF) of a subject at two or more time points, wherein a decrease in the CFF is indicative that the subject has a poor prognosis. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64-66. -66. (canceled)
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67. A computerized method for identifying subjects having a neurological disease comprising:
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maintaining a database of CFFs for subjects at various time points and stages of disease progression; comparing the results of an individuals CFF results taken at two or more time points to the database; obtaining the diagnosis of a neurological disease from the computer if subject has CFF results that decrease between measurements. - View Dependent Claims (68, 70)
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69. (canceled)
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71. A business method for decreasing healthcare costs comprising:
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determining the critical flicker frequency (CFF) of a subject at two or more time points; storing patient information on a computer processor; determining if the subject has a neurological disease by determining if the CFF value has decreased between time points; and treating the subject as necessary to avoid or delay hospitalization.
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72. (canceled)
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73. A device for determining the risk of an HE event, comprising:
a flicker box, a measurement device to determine CFF, and a computer with an algorithm.
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74. (canceled)
Specification