Nicholas A Flavahan

US Patent:

6444681, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

Jun 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/591254

Inventors:

Nicholas Flavahan - Columbus OH
Sheila Flavahan - Columbus OH
Maqsood Chotani - Columbus OH
Srabani Mitra - Worthington OH
Baogen Su - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University Research Foundation - Columbus OH

International Classification:

A01N 4354

US Classification:

514257, 514259

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 patients body. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist to the -adrenergic receptor ( -AR) to a patient with Raynauds Phenomenon. Such method is used to ameliorate the cold-induced or stress-induced vasoreactive response that is associated with Raynauds Phenomenon. The -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 -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.