U.S. patent application number 11/391502 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for treating pulmonary disorders with gaseous agent causing repletion of gsno.
Invention is credited to Jonathan S. Stamler.
Application Number | 20060263447 11/391502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25124871 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060263447 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stamler; Jonathan S. |
November 23, 2006 |
Treating pulmonary disorders with gaseous agent causing repletion
of GSNO
Abstract
Pulmonary disorders in which the GSNO pool or glutathione pool
in the lung is depleted and where reactive oxygen species in lung
are increased, are treated by delivering into the lung as a gas,
agent causing repletion or increase of the GSNO pool or protection
against toxicity and does so independently of reaction with oxygen.
Agents include ethyl nitrite, NOCl, NOBr, NOF, NOCN,
N.sub.2O.sub.3, HNO, and H.sub.2S. Optionally, N-acetylcysteine,
ascorbate, H.sub.2S or HNO is administered in addition to other
GSNO repleting agent to potentiate the effect of said agent.
Inventors: |
Stamler; Jonathan S.;
(Chapel Hill, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY;AND POPEO, P.C.
ONE FINANCIAL CENTER
BOSTON
MA
02111
US
|
Family ID: |
25124871 |
Appl. No.: |
11/391502 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09782077 |
Feb 14, 2001 |
7045152 |
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11391502 |
Mar 27, 2006 |
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09390215 |
Sep 8, 1999 |
6314956 |
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09782077 |
Feb 14, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/708 ;
424/718 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 514/959 20130101;
A61P 9/10 20180101; Y10S 514/929 20130101; A61K 45/06 20130101;
Y10S 514/851 20130101; A61K 33/00 20130101; A61K 31/197 20130101;
A61P 29/00 20180101; A61K 31/21 20130101; A61K 33/04 20130101; A61P
11/00 20180101; Y10S 514/958 20130101; A61P 9/00 20180101; A61P
21/00 20180101; A61K 31/375 20130101; A61P 11/06 20180101; A61P
9/12 20180101; A61K 31/197 20130101; Y10S 514/826 20130101; A61M
2202/0275 20130101; A61K 33/00 20130101; A61K 31/221 20130101; A61K
33/04 20130101; A61P 7/06 20180101; A61K 31/375 20130101; A61K
2300/00 20130101; A61K 2300/00 20130101; A61K 2300/00 20130101;
A61K 2300/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/708 ;
424/718 |
International
Class: |
A61K 33/00 20060101
A61K033/00; A61K 33/04 20060101 A61K033/04 |
Claims
1. A method for treating a pulmonary disorder associated with
depletion of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool in the lung or depletion
of the glutathione pool in the lung or production of reactive
oxygen species in the lung in a patient having such disorder which
comprises delivering into the lungs of said patient as a gas, a
therapeutically effective amount of an agent, which causes
repletion or increase of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool in the lung
or protects against toxicity where glutathione is depleted in the
lung or where reactive oxygen species are increased in the lung and
does so independently of reaction with oxygen.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulmonary disorder is
associated with hypoxemia and/or smooth muscle constriction in the
lungs and/or lung infection and/or lung injury.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent is naturally a gas.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises NOX where X
is halogen or hydrogen.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises
N.sub.2O.sub.3.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises H.sub.2S.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises HNO.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises NOCl.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises NOCN.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises
trifluoronitrosomethane.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises
methylnitrite.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises ethyl
nitrite.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises a compound
selected from the group consisting of methylnitrososulfinate,
methylthionitrite, thionitrosochloronitrite and
thionyldinitrite.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein N-acetylcysteine is also
administered, the administration of the N-acetylcysteine being in
an amount effective to mediate repletion or increase of the
S-nitrosoglutathione pool or potentiate the effect of said agent,
in the lung.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein ascorbate is also administered,
the administration of the ascorbate being in an amount effective to
mediate repletion or increase of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool in
the lung and/or protect the lung from injury.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein liquid HNO is also administered,
the administration of the HNO being in an amount effective to
mediate repletion or increase of S-nitrosoglutathione pool in the
lung.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/782,077, filed Feb. 14, 2001, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/390,215, filed on Sep. 8, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,956. The
contents of these applications are each incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to treating lung disorders by
delivery of a gas into the lungs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is used to treat elevated
pulmonary pressures and pulmonary disorders associated with
hypoxemia. This provides hypoxemia relieving and smooth muscle
constriction relieving effects, but side effects include
inflammation, airway hyperactivity, hemorrhage, and reaction with
hemoglobin resulting in interference with its oxygen delivery
function. In addition, this impairs renal function and even
increases mortality in some subsets. The hypoxemia relieving and
smooth muscle constriction relieving effects are due mainly to the
vasodilating effect of NO as NO does not mediate production of
S-nitrosoglutathione in the lung effectively, as it requires
reaction with oxygen for this purpose and this reaction does not
proceed readily in the lung. On the other hand, the toxicity of NO
is related to reactions with oxygen and reactive oxygen species and
is mitigated by airway glutathione and thiols.
[0004] Use of nitric oxide-releasing compounds inhaled as solids or
liquids in an aerosol (nebulized NO donor compounds) to treat
pulmonary vasconstriction and asthma is described in Zapol U.S.
Pat. No. 5,823,180. This method while offering certain advantages
compared to NO administration has the disadvantages compared to
inhaled NO administration that the distribution in the lungs is not
matched to perfusion so NO deposits in places where it does not
reach the blood and that the method is not readily carried out by
an anesthesiologist since anesthesiologists do not normally
administer liquids or powders. In addition, the pharmacokinetics of
these compounds are different and may reveal systemic effects.
Moreover, all the potential toxicities of inhaled NO gas are
manifest also with nebulized NO donor compounds as these are
converted to NO in the lung. The disadvantages of administering
nebulized NO donor are indicated to be meaningful by the fact that
inhaled gaseous NO is approved for use over inhaled liquid or
inhaled solid NO-releasing compound.
[0005] The method of parent patent application Ser. No. 09/390,215
constitutes an improvement over the methods described above which
rely on inhaled NO or nebulized NO donor. The method of Ser. No.
09/390,215 comprises delivery into the lungs of a patient with a
pulmonary disorder associated with hypoxemia and/or smooth muscle
constriction, as a gas, a therapeutically effective amount of a
compound having an NO group and having a hypoxemia relieving and
smooth muscle constriction relieving effect with said NO group
being bound in said compound so that it does not form NO.sub.2 or
NO.sub.x (where NO.sub.x means NO, N.sub.2O.sub.3, N.sub.2O.sub.4,
OONO.sup.-, OONO. and any products of their reaction with NO or
NO.sub.2). This method provides the advantages of administering
inhaled NO compared to administering nebulized NO donor, without
the toxicities associated with NO inhalation. Other desired effects
include reactions with thiols of the red blood cell rather than
hemes of hemoglobin so as to improve systemic delivery of oxygen.
The preferred treating agent for the method of Ser. No. 09/390,215
is ethyl nitrite.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] This invention relies on the conception that for lung
disorders associated with depletion of the S-nitrosoglutathione
(GSNO) pool in lung or depletion of the glutathione pool in lung or
increased production of reactive oxygen species in lung, treatment
with inhaled gases to replete or increase the S-nitrosoglutathione
pool and/or to react preferentially with glutathione to form other
NO glutathione derivatives independently of reaction with oxygen,
would provide the benefits of treatment using gas inhalation of
matching ventilation to perfusion and suitability for
administration by an anesthesiologist and the benefits of treatment
using inhaled NO of hypoxemia relieving effect and/or smooth muscle
relieving effect, and additionally would provide antimicrobial
effect and anti-inflammatory activity, and these activities would
be provided with less toxicities than previous alternative
therapies. The totality of the benefits is important, for example,
not only in respect to treatment of asthma, for example, which is
associated with smooth muscle constriction in lung and can be
associated with hypoxemia, and where lung infection can be a
secondary problem, but also in respect to cystic fibrosis where
airway lining can be impaired to the extent that relaxing of the
airway is not therapeutic, but where antimicrobial effect is
important to treat infection associated with cystic fibrosis or
where increased GSNO or glutathione (GSH) reactive compounds can
upregulate the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator. In respect
to treating cystic fibrosis, inhaled gaseous GSNO repleting or
increase causing agents also function better than inhaled NO
because they cause increase in cystic fibrosis transmembrane
regulator and inhaled NO does not and/or are less toxic than
NO.
[0007] While it is known to treat lung disorders by inhibiting
reduction of GSNO by administering inhibitor of
S-nitrosoglutathione reductase, also known as glutathione dependent
formaldehyde dehydrogenase (U.S. application Ser. No. 09/757,610,
filed Jan. 11, 2001), and by preventing and/or accommodating for
S-nitrosothiol breakdown by administering certain treating agents
(U.S. application Ser. No. 09/403,775, filed Nov. 4, 1999), these
patent applications do not specifically disclose delivery into the
lungs as a gas, an agent which causes repletion or increase of the
GSNO pool, and they do not consider thiols and other anti-oxidants
such as N-acetylcysteine, ascorbate and H.sub.2S which can increase
the GSNO pool.
[0008] The invention herein is directed to a method for treating a
pulmonary disorder associated with depletion of the
S-nitrosoglutathione pool in the lung or depletion of the
glutathione pool in the lung or production of reactive oxygen
species in the lung, in a patient having such disorder, which
comprises delivery into the lungs of said patient as a gas, a
therapeutically effective amount of an agent which causes repletion
or increase of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool in the lung or
protects against toxicity (as manifested by inflammation or
fibrosis in lung or airway constriction or blood vessel
constriction in lung or by ventilation perfusion mismatching in
lung) where glutathione is depleted in lung (and/or is being
oxidized by reactive oxygen species and thereby inactivated) or
where reactive oxygen species are increased in the lung and does so
independently of reaction with oxygen. As indicated above, inhaled
NO does not replete or increase the S-nitrosoglutathione pool
effectively but comparison of effect is not necessary since the
language "independently of reaction with oxygen" excludes the
administration of inhaled NO.
[0009] Above, matching ventilation to perfusion is mentioned. This
means that blood vessels in lung are matched to air sacs of lung
(alveoli). If a dilated blood vessel in lung is not juxtaposed to
an air sac, oxygenation can be impaired by the dilation, and
improved oxygen delivery to the air sac will not improve blood
oxygenation. Matching ventilation to perfusion happens distinct
from dilation of blood vessels in lung. This is explified in
treatment by the administration of the vasorelaxant dobutamine,
which, while dilating blood vessels in lung, impairs ventilation to
perfusion matching.
[0010] The term "depletion of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool" is
used herein to mean low GSNO content compared to normal, i.e., a
level of GSNO less than 90% of normal, as determined, for example,
by chemiluminescence analysis of the airway lining fluid.
[0011] The term "depletion of the glutathione pool" is used herein
to mean less than 0.5 millimolar glutathione in airway lining fluid
as determined, for example, by standard assays for low mass thiols
and does not exclude the option of increasing glutathione or other
thiol in airway lining fluid.
[0012] The term "increased production of reactive oxygen species in
the lung" is used herein to mean any evidence of oxidant stress
such as increased production of H.sub.2O.sub.2 in expired breath or
increased bromotyrosine or nitrotyrosine formation, compared to
normal, as determined, for example, by immunolabeling or other
standard techniques.
[0013] The term "replete or increase the S-nitrosoglutathione pool"
is used herein to mean preventing breakdown of GSNO, for example,
by scavenging reactive oxygen species, or increasing levels of GSNO
by molecules that generate either GSNO directly or GSNO like
species which can be readily converted to GSNO including GSNO.,
GSNHOH or GSNO.sub.2. The obtaining of this result can be
determined, for example, by chemiluminescence analysis of airway
lining fluid or exhaled breath.
[0014] The term "independently of reaction with oxygen" as used
herein, means a direct reaction between delivered compound and
glutathione in the physiological setting.
[0015] We turn now to optional additional treatments.
[0016] In one such case, N-acetylcysteine is administered to the
patient in addition to the delivery into the lungs of the patient
as a gas of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool repleting or increase
causing agent, to mediate repletion or increase of the
S-nitrosoglutathione pool and/or potentiate the effect of said
S-nitrosoglutathione pool repleting or increasing agent
administered as a gas; in another such case, alternative thiol
repleting or increasing agents, such as pro-cysteine, are used.
Administration of the N-acetylcysteine or alternative thiol
repleting or increasing agent is in an amount effective to mediate
repletion or increase of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool and/or
potentiate the NO donor gas effect, in the lung. See Example VII
and FIG. 1 for specifics of a treatment that was successful in the
treatment of ARDS where all previous therapies failed.
[0017] In another such case, ascorbate is administered to the
patient in addition to the delivery into the lungs of the patient
as a gas of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool repleting or increase
causing agent, to mediate repletion or increase of the
S-nitrosoglutathione pool and/or potentiate the effect of said
S-nitrosoglutathione pool repleting or increase causing agent
administered as gas. Administration of the ascorbate is in an
amount effective to mediate repletion or increase of the
S-nitrosothiol pool in the lung and/or protect from injury as
measured by indices such as decreased H.sub.2O.sub.2 in expired
breadth or decreased thiobarbituric acid derivatives in expired
breath or decreased carbon monoxide in expired breath or decreased
nitration in lung.
[0018] If desired, both N-acetylcysteine and ascorbate can be
administered to a patient in addition to delivery into the lungs of
the patient as a gas of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool repleting or
increase causing agent, to mediate repleting or increase of the
S-nitrosoglutathione pool and/or potentiate the effect of said
S-nitrosoglutathione pool repleting or increase causing agent
administered as a gas.
[0019] In another case H.sub.2S, and in still another case HNO or
HNO donor compound, e.g., Angeli's salt or piloty acid, are given
preferentially as gases, in the first case (H.sub.2S) to replete
glutathione and/or decrease reactive oxygen species and/or
potentiate the effect of any other S-nitrosoglutathione pool
repleting or increase causing agent administered, and in the second
case (HNO or HNO donor compound) to raise GSNO levels in the lung,
in addition to delivery into the lungs as a gas of other
S-nitrosoglutathione pool repleting or increase causing agent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a graph of Pa.sub.O2 versus time, and shows
results of Example VII.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] We turn now to the method herein for treating a pulmonary
disorder associated with depletion of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool
in the lung or depletion of the glutathione pool in the lung or
production of reactive oxygen species in the lung in a patient
having such disorder, which comprises delivery into the lungs of
said patient as a gas, a therapeutically effective amount of an
agent which causes repletion or increase of the
S-nitrosoglutathione pool in the lung or protects against toxicity
where glutathione is depleted in lung or where reactive oxygen
species are increased in the lung and does so independently of
reaction with oxygen (hereinafter sometimes referred to as GSNO
repleting agent).
[0022] We turn now to the pulmonary disorders associated with
depletion of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool in the lung or depletion
of the glutathione pool in the lung or production of reactive
oxygen species in the lung. These include pulmonary disorders
associated with hypoxemia and/or smooth muscle constriction in the
lungs and/or lung infection and/or lung injury. These disorders may
include, for example, pulmonary hypertension, ARDS, asthma,
pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial lung diseases, and
cystic fibrosis. Pulmonary hypertension is associated with smooth
muscle constriction in the lungs and can be associated with
hypoxemia. ARDS is associated with hypoxemia and can be associated
with smooth muscle constriction in the lung. Asthma is known to be
associated with depletion of GSNO in lung and is associated with
smooth muscle constriction in the lungs and can be associated with
infection in the lungs and can be associated with hypoxemia. Cystic
fibrosis is known to be associated with depletion of GSNO in lung
and is associated with smooth muscle constriction in lungs and can
be associated with infection in the lungs and can be associated
with hypoxemia. Some cases of severe hypoxemia are associated with
depletion of GSNO. Lung injury disorders associated with depletion
of the S-nitrosoglutathione pool in the lung include, for example,
subsets of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and
asthma. Disorders associated with depletion of the glutathione pool
in lung include ARDS, ventilation pneumonia and interstitial lung
diseases. All of the above disorders are associated with production
of reactive oxygen species in lung.
[0023] We turn now to the treating agents for the method herein,
for delivery into the lungs as a gas, i.e., to the GSNO repleting
agents for delivery into the lungs as a gas.
[0024] As indicated above, the limitation "independently of
reaction with oxygen" excludes the administration of nitric oxide
(NO).
[0025] There is overlap for the treating agents for administration
as a gas for the method herein with the treating agents of Ser. No.
09/390,215 which are compounds capable of being administered as a
gas, having an NO group and having a hypoxemia relieving and smooth
muscle relieving effect with said NO group being bound in said
compound so it does not form NO.sub.2 or NO.sub.x in the presence
of oxygen or reactive oxygen species at body temperature where
NO.sub.x is NO, N.sub.2O.sub.3, N.sub.2O.sub.4, OONO.sup.-, OONO.
and any products of their interaction with NO or NO.sub.2.
[0026] One GSNO repleting agent useful in the method herein for
administration as a gas which is also the preferred treating agent
in Ser. No. 09/390,215 is ethyl nitrite which is naturally a gas
but is readily dissolved in ethanol to provide solution in liquid
form for handling and is readily restored to gaseous form for
administration as described below.
[0027] Other GSNO repleting agents useful in the method herein for
administration as gases that are naturally gases, that is, have a
boiling point at or below room temperature at atmospheric pressure,
include methyl nitrite and trifluoronitrosomethane which are
specifically mentioned as treating agents in Ser. No.
09/390,215.
[0028] Other GSNO repleting agents for use in the method herein
which are naturally gases or which can be converted into a gas for
administration which are not specifically mentioned in Ser. No.
09/390,215 but which meet the definition of compound to be
admistered in the method of Ser. No. 09/390,215 include NOX or XNO
where X is halogen, e.g., Cl, Br or F, or hydrogen, or NOX or XNO
generating agents, alkyl nitrososulfinates (RSO.sub.2NO) where the
alkyl group contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,
thionitrosochloronitrite (SOClONO), thionyldinite (SO(ONO).sub.2)
and alkyl thionitrites (RSNO.sub.2) wherein the alkyl group
contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and nitrosourea.
[0029] GSNO repleting agents useful in the method herein for
administration as gases which do not meet the definition of
compound to be administered as a gas in Ser. No. 09/390,215 are
N.sub.2O.sub.3 (nitrogen trioxide) and H.sub.2S. While these are
normally considered toxic and strong irritants, they are
pharmaceutically acceptable at the low concentrations used herein
(0.1 to 100 ppm).
[0030] Other GSNO repleting agents useful in the method herein for
administration as gases are compounds administrable as gases that
prevent GSNO breakdown.
[0031] Dilution of the treating agents herein to 0.1 to 100 ppm for
delivery into the lungs as a gas is typically appropriate.
[0032] Diluted treating agent is readily delivered into the lungs
as a gas, using a ventilator which is a conventional device for
administering gases into the lungs of a patient. A tube attached to
the device passes the gas into the lungs at a rate and pressure
consistent with maintaining a Pa.sub.O2 of 90 mm Hg. Time periods
of administration typically range from 1 minute to two or more
days, and administration is suitably carried out until symptoms
abate. Administration can also be carried out using a face
mask.
[0033] The GSNO repleting agents useful in the method herein for
administration as gases are readily delivered by dissolving them in
solvent (e.g., ethanol in the case of ethyl nitrite) and bubbling
N.sub.2 or O.sub.2 through a Milligan gas diffuser, e.g., at a flow
rate ranging from 0.1 to 1 ml/min, e.g., at a flow rate of 0.5
ml/min, to produce N.sub.2 or O.sub.2 containing the GSNO repleting
agent, and introducing this into the ventilation system for the
patient by mixing output from the ventilator with N.sub.2 or
O.sub.2 containing the GSNO repleting agent, e.g., to produce a
concentration of 0.1 to 100 ppm treating agent in the resulting
gas, and delivering this to the patient at a rate and pressure to
maintain Pa.sub.O2 at 90 mm Hg and/or GSNO concentration greater
than 10 nanomolar in the airway lining. The concentration of GSNO
repleting agent in the gas administered is proportional to the flow
rate of N.sub.2 or O.sub.2 and the concentration of GSNO repleting
agent in solvent.
[0034] As indicated above, a therapeutically effective amount is
administered. In the case of hypoxemia, this is a hypoxemia
relieving effective amount. In the case of smooth muscle
constriction in lung, this is a smooth muscle constriction
relieving effective amount. In the case of lung infection, this is
an antimicrobial effective amount. In the case of lung injury, this
is an anti-inflammatory and/or GSNO repleting effective amount.
Administration is typically carried out for as long as symptoms
ameliorate.
[0035] We turn now to the case where N-acetylcysteine is
administered to the patient as a GSNO repleting agent and/or to
potentiate the effect of other GSNO repleting agent, in addition to
the delivery into the lungs of the patient as a gas of GSNO
repleting agent. This is used in the same dosages and same routes
of administration as it is now used for standard therapy to liquify
secretions (e.g., in bronchitis), e.g., at a dosage ranging from 50
to 200 mg/kg with the preferred route of administration being
intravenous or nebulized which dosage and route of administration
are those indicated as used in combination with ethyl nitrite to
treat hypertension to promote systemic release of NO from binding
cysteine of hemoglobin in Ser. No. 09/390,215 and which combination
and dosage and route of administration may also be used to treat
angina.
[0036] We turn now to the case where ascorbate is administered to
the patient as a GSNO repleting agent and/or to potentiate the
effect of other GSNO repleting agent in addition to the delivery
into the lungs of the patient as a gas of GSNO repleting agent. The
ascorbate functions by scavenging free radicals that break down
GSNO. The ascorbate can be any source of ascorbic acid, e.g.,
vitamin C or sodium ascorbate. The dose of the ascorbate is, for
example, 0.5 to 2 grams every 6 hours, and is a free radical
scavenging effective amount. The route of administration for the
ascorbate is, for example, nebulized, intravenous or oral.
[0037] We turn now to the case where HNO is administered to the
patient in non-gaseous or gaseous form in addition to the delivery
into the lungs of the patient as a gas of other GSNO repleting
agent. The dosage for HNO is, for example, 0.1 to 100 ppm in
gaseous form (e.g., in nitrogen) or 1 .mu.M to 100 mM (as Angeli's
salt) in 3 cc of saline. The route of administration for HNO as a
solution is by nebulizing in, for example, nitrogen gaseous
carrier.
[0038] We turn now to the case where H.sub.2S is administered to
the patient to replete or increase the S-nitrosoglutathione pool or
to potentiate the effect of other GSNO repleting agent, in addition
to the delivery into the lungs of the patient as a gas of other
GSNO repleting agent. The dosage is 0.1 to 100 ppm, e.g., in
nitrogen. The route of administration is, for example, via a
ventilator.
[0039] The invention is illustrated in the following examples.
[0040] In the following examples, dilution with nitrogen and
dilution with oxygen are typically interchangeable.
EXAMPLE I
[0041] A 63-year-old white male with primary pulmonary hypertension
is treated with inhaled NOCl at 10 parts/million in nitrogen.
Pulmonary systolic pressure drops from 40 to 30 mm Hg and the
PaO.sub.2 increases from 56 to 72 mm Hg.
EXAMPLE II
[0042] A 25-year-old white female with ARDS secondary to urosepsis
is intubated with a PaO.sub.2 of 14 mm Hg. She is given NOCN in
nitrogen at 20 parts per million and the PaO.sub.2 increases to
60.
EXAMPLE III
[0043] A 6-year-old boy presents in status astmtaticus. His
PO.sub.2 is 64 mm Hg and he is intubated. Efforts to ventilate are
complicated by a pneumothorax. He is started on 20 ppm
methylnitrososulfinate in nitrogen and airway pressures
decrease.
EXAMPLE IV
[0044] A 17-year-old white male with cystic fibrosis presents with
hypoxemia and pseudomonas pneumonia. A bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
shows complete deficiency of GSNO. The patient is given inhaled
thionitrosochloronitrite at 5 parts per million in nitrogen with
repletion of GSNO. He is then converted to a nebulized solution
(100 mM per 3 cc normal saline) which he is given every 6 hours for
maintenance therapy. GSNO levels are sustained for four days and
the infection resolves.
EXAMPLE V
[0045] A 46-year-old white female with sclerodoma and secondary
pulmonary hypertension presents with a pulmonary pressure of 70 mm
Hg and a PO.sub.2 of 50 mm Hg. She is given inhaled
thionyldinitrite of 20 ppm in nitrogen and pulmonary pressures fall
to 60 mm Hg and the PaO.sub.2 increases to 70 mm Hg.
EXAMPLE VI
[0046] A 60-year-old with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) develops
ARDS during induction chemotherapy. The PO.sub.2 is 40 on 100%
oxygen and the patient is intubated. Methylthionitrite is given at
20 parts per million oxygen with improvement in the PaO.sub.2 to 70
mm Hg.
EXAMPLE VII
[0047] A 35-year-old female presented with acute viral pneumonia
that progressed to ARDS. She failed all conventional therapy and
became hemodynamically unstable. The PaO.sub.2 on 100% oxygen was
39 mm Hg. Ethylnitrite (ENO) was started at 40 ppm in nitrogen with
improvement in the PaO.sub.2 to 48 mm Hg. The blood pressure
stabilized. Over the following 12 hours the patient became
progressively less responsive to ENO with the PaO.sub.2 failing to
37 millimeters of mercury. The patient was then given nebulized
N-acetylcysteine (cysteine), which immediately sensitized her to
ENO and the PaO.sub.2 rose to 46 mm Hg. ENO was stopped and the
PaO.sub.2 fell to 43 mm Hg. ENO in nitrogen was started again and
the PaO.sub.2 rose to 49 mm Hg. The results are shown in FIG. 1.
Arrow A indicates response t6 initial ENO administration. Arrow B
indicates response to ENO plus N-acetylcysteine administration.
Arrow C indicates response to stopping ENO administration where
PaO.sub.2 fell to 43 mm Hg. Arrow D represents response to ENO
administration after the response of arrow C.
EXAMPLE VIII
[0048] A 20-year-old white female with ARDS presents with a
PaO.sub.2 of 50 mm Hg. She is given inhaled ethylnitrite in
nitrogen at 10 ppm for three days, at which time per PaO.sub.2
falls to 40 mm Hg. Ascorbate is begun at 2 grams IV Q 6 hours and
over the day her PaO.sub.2 increases to 55 mm Hg.
EXAMPLE IX
[0049] A 15-year-old white female with cystic fibrosis presents
with hypoxemia and pulmonary hemorrhage. A bronchoalveolar lavage
reveals absence of GSNO and low levels of glutathione. She is begun
on ethylnitrite 20 parts per million in nitrogen, and
N-acetylcysteine 50 mg/kg Q 6 hours and ascorbate IV 1 gram Q 6
hours. Over the following three days the hemorrhage stops and the
patient reverts to her normal state of health. She is discharged on
day 7.
EXAMPLE X
[0050] A 25-year-old white male presents to the emergency room with
an asthmatic exacerbation. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second
(FEV1) is 0.8 liters per minute. Following the standard
bronchodilator regimen, the FEV1 increases to 1.5 liters per minute
but breathing is still labored. GSNO levels in the airway lining
are depleted. The patient is begun on H.sub.2S gas at 10 ppm in
nitrogen and over the following day the FEV1 increases to 1.8
liters per minute. Ethyl nitrate is then started at 10 ppm in
nitrogen and the FEV1 increases to 2 liters per minute.
EXAMPLE XI
[0051] A 17-year-old female with cystic fibrosis presents with
labored breathing and increased sputum production. The she is begun
on HNO 10 ppm in nitrogen with improvements in her symptomatic
status. She is begun on Angeli's salt 100 mM in 3 cc normal saline
nebulized Q 6 hours with decreases in sputum production over two
days.
EXAMPLE XII
[0052] A 20-year-old with cystic fibrosis develops bronchospasm
secondary to a severe pseudomonas infection. Analysis of
bronchoalveolar lavage reveals an absence of GSNO. The patient is
begun on ethylnitrite 10 parts per million in nitrogen and
nebulized Angeli's salt (50 mM/3 cc normal saline). By day 2 the
GSNO levels increase in the airway lining fluid and sputum
production decreases. The patient's blood gases have improved.
VARIATIONS
[0053] Variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Thus, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.
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