Methods and compositions for treating Raynaud's Phenomenon and scleroderma

Abstract

A method for treating conditions or diseases associated with deleterious vasoconstriction of the small arteries and arterioles of one or more organs or parts of a patient's body. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist to the α2C-adrenergic receptor (α2C-AR) to a patient with Raynaud's Phenomenon. Such method is used to ameliorate the cold-induced or stress-induced vasoreactive response that is associated with Raynaud's Phenomenon. The α2C-AR antagonist is administered to the subject either prior to or after exposure of the patient to the cold or to stressIn another embodiment, the method is used to reduce the extent of deleterious vasoconstriction that occurs in the small arteries, arterioles, and microcirculation of the lungs, heart, kidneys, skin, or gastrointestinal tract of a patient, particularly a scleroderma patient. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an α2C-AR antagonist to a patient who is in need of the same. Such treatment serves to maintain or restore, at least in part, blood flow through the small arteries, arterioles, and microcirculation of the lungs, heart, kidneys, skin, and/or gastrointestinal tract in a such patient. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical compositions comprising an α2C-AR antagonist and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.