Use of xenon with hypothermia for treating neonatal asphyxia
The present invention relates to the use of xenon in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of neonatal asphyxia in a neonatal subject, wherein said medicament is for use in combination with hypothermia.
1. A method of treating neonatal asphyxia in a mammal in need thereof said method comprising: (a) administering to a mammal a gaseous mixture comprising xenon, the xenon having a percent concentration by volume of between about 12.5% and 50%; and (b) subjecting the mammal to hypothermia at temperatures between about 23° C. and 37° C.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mammal is a human.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the xenon is administered in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the xenon is administered in the form of a 20 to 70% v/v xenon/air mixture.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the xenon is administered simultaneously with hypothermia.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the xenon is administered separately from hypothermia.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature of the mammal is maintained at a temperature of from about 32° C. to about 36° C.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the temperature of the mammal is maintained at a temperature of from about 33° C. to about 35° C.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the hypothermia is maintained for a period of at least 6 hours after the hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insult.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the hypothermia is maintained for a period of from about 6 to about 24 hours after the hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insult.
11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the xenon is administered to the mother of the mammal prior to birth.
12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the xenon is administered to the mother of the mammal prior to, or during, labour.
13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the xenon is administered to the mother of the mammal for up to about 24 hours prior to birth.
14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the xenon is administered in a therapeutically effective amount.
15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the xenon is administered in a sub-therapeutically effective amount.
16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the xenon is administered in a combination with an anesthetic selected from the group consisting of isoflurane, sevoflurane and desfiurane.
17. A method of treating neonatal asphyxia in a mammal in need thereof, said method comprising: (a) administering to the mother of the mammal prior to and/or during labour a gaseous mixture comprising xenon, the xenon having a percent concentration by volume of between about 12.5% and 50%; and (b) subjecting the mammal to hypothermia after birth at temperatures between about 23° C. and 37° C.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the xenon is administered sequentially with hypothermia.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the xenon is administered in a therapeutically effective amount.
20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the xenon is administered in a sub-therapeutically effective amount.