Method for treating acute kidney injury
The present invention provides methods for treating acute kidney injury through introduction of one or more drag reducing polymers, oligomers, and/or monomers, as well as compositions that include therapeutic amounts of one or more of these drag reducing polymers, oligomers, and/or monomers. These compositions may also include additional components that enhance at least one of the stability, effectiveness, or administerability of the polymers, oligomers, and/or monomers—such as buffers, anti-oxidants, and enzyme inhibitors.
1. A method of treating acute kidney injury, comprising administering to a subject afflicted with said injury a drag reducing polymer effective to produce a maximum concentration of said drag reducing polymer in the blood of said subject of between 1 and 100 ppm.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is a polynucleotide.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is polyethylene oxide.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is polyacrylamide.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is hyaluronic acid.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is hyaluronate.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is administered intravenously.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is administered to said subject prior to surgery.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is administered to said subject after surgery.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is administered to said subject in a repeated dose.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said doses are administered to the subject at regular intervals.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said doses are administered every three days.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to administering said drag reducing polymer, determining a target concentration of said drag reducing polymer in the blood based on the severity of the acute kidney injury.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to administering said drag reducing polymer, determining a target concentration of said drag reducing polymer in the blood based on a physiologic measurement.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said physiologic measurement is a creatinine level of said subject.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one component is administered which enhances at least one of the stability, effectiveness or ease of administration of said drag reducing polymer.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducing polymer is polyvinylformamide.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said treatment improves kidney function from day 1 through day 3 after administration of the drag reducing polymer.
19. A method of treating acute kidney injury, comprising administering to a subject afflicted with said injury a drag reducing polymer effective to produce a maximum concentration of said drag reducing polymer in the blood of said subject of between 1 and 100 ppm,
wherein the acute kidney injury is not caused by sepsis.
20. A method of treating acute kidney injury, comprising administering to a subject afflicted with said injury a drag reducing polymer effective to produce a maximum concentration of said drag reducing polymer in the blood of said subject of between 1 and 100 ppm,
wherein the drag reducing polymer is not hyaluronic acid or hyaluronate.