Transdiscal Administration Of Specific Inhibitors Of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines
The present invention relates to injecting a high specificity cytokine antagonist into a diseased intervertebral disc.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A method of assessing a degenerating disc, comprising:
a) removing a portion of the nucleus pulposus from the degenerating disc of the patient;
b) diagnosing a level of pro-inflammatory cytokine in a material derived from the portion;
c) comparing the diagnosed level against a pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine;
d) determining whether the diagnosed level exceeds the pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, wherein a diagnosed level that exceeds the pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine indicates that the pro-inflammatory cytokine is causing unwanted inflammatory action.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is an interleukin.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the predetermined level for an interleukin is at least 100 pg/ml.
24 . The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:
e) concluding that the diagnosed level is causing unwanted inflammatory action; and
f) injecting into the degenerating disc a therapeutic.
25 . A method of therapeutically treating a patient having a degenerating disc, comprising:
a) removing a portion of the nucleus pulposus from the degenerating disc of the patient,
b) diagnosing a level of pro-inflammatory cytokine in a material derived from the removed nucleus pulposus,
c) comparing the diagnosed levels against pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine,
d) determining if the diagnosed level exceeds the pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine,
e) based upon the determination, injecting into the degenerating disc a therapeutic injectate.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the therapeutic injectate comprises autologous cultured chondrocytes derived from the disc of the patient.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is an interleukin.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the predetermined level for an interleukin is at least 100 pg/ml.
29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the therapeutic injectate is selected based upon the determination that the diagnosed level exceeds the pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine.