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AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsOwen W. Griffith, Steven S. Gross, Roberto Levi
Estimating the term…
Reducing plasma levels of endogenous arginine by parenteral administration of arginine depleting agent limits nitric oxide formation and results in blood pressure increase. Preferably arginase is administered intravenously to raise blood pressure. The arginine depleting agent can be administered in conjunction with arginine antagonists to potentiate the effect of these. The arginine depleting agent can be used concurrently with .alpha..sub.1 adrenergic agonists in treating systemic hypotension caused by induced production of nitric oxide, to restore vascular contractile sensitivity to the effect of the .alpha..sub.1 adrenergic agonists. Duration of action and avoidance of antigenicity may be obtained by use in conjunction with a carrier or modifier.
A method for treating a subject for systemic hypotension caused by sepsis or cytokine induced production of nitric oxide, said method comprising administering to a subject in need of said treatment at least one .alpha..sub.1 adrenergic agonist in a therapeutically effective amount and administering to said subject an amount of a plasma arginine depleting enzyme to reduce the plasma level of arginine to a nitric oxide production limiting level to restore vascular contractile sensitivity to the effects of said .alpha..sub.1 adrenergic agonist, said enzyme being administered parenterally or by using an extracorporeal reactor which contains the enzyme and through which the subject's blood is passed.
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