USE OF GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS FOR TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS CONDITIONS
The invention provides the use of a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist for the manufacture of a medicament for immune stimulation, such as prevention or treatment of infections or infectious conditions, in an aging mammalian subject, a mammalian subject with low serum DHEAS values, a mammalian subject with a high serum cortisol/DHEAS ratio or a mammalian subject with high neutrophil counts. In particular, the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist can be chosen from the group consisting of a dibenzopyranyl derivative defined and/or exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,534 and WO200116128, mifepristone, and (11β,17β)-11-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-17-hydroxy-17-(1-propynyl)estra-4,9-dien-3-one.
1 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A method for providing immune stimulation in a mammalian subject in need thereof, wherein the mammalian subject is selected from the group consisting of an aging mammalian subject, a subject with low serum DHEAS values, a subject with a high serum cortisol/DHEAS ratio and a subject with high neutrophil counts, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist to the mammalian subject.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mammalian subject is an aging mammalian subject.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mammalian subject is a subject with a low serum DHEAS value.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mammalian subject is a subject with a high serum cortisol/DHEAS ratio.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mammalian subject is a subject with high neutrophil counts.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the aging human subject is under conditions of stress and has at least one of a, b or c:
a) a serum DHEAS value lower than 6 μM;
b) a serum cortisol/DHEAS ratio on molar basis higher than 0.2;
c) a neutrophil count higher than 6.5×10 9 l −1 .
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is mifepristone or (11β,17β)-11(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-17-hydroxy-17-(1-propynyl)estra-4,9-dien-3-one.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is (11β,17β)-11-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-17-hydroxy-17-(1-propynyl)estra-4,9-dien-3-one.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject suffers from an infection or any infectious condition concomitant to a hip fracture and/or hip surgery.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human subject.