Methods of treating hepatic encephalopathy
AssigneeSalix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Forbes, Kunal Merchant, Enoch Bortey, Audrey Shaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims57
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.
2-4. (canceled)
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.
A method for treating a subject having HE, comprising:
- administering a GI specific antibiotic with lactulose, thereby treating a subject having HE.
(canceled)
(canceled)
10-14. (canceled)
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.
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.
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.
A method of treating or preventing an HE event, comprising:
- 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.
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.
39-44. (canceled)
A method of treating or preventing an HE event, comprising:
- 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.
53-57. (canceled)
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.
(canceled)
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.
64-66. (canceled)
A computerized method for identifying subjects having a neurological disease comprising:
- 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.
(canceled)
A business method for decreasing healthcare costs comprising:
- 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.
(canceled)
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.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.