Treatment of pruritus with vitamin d and analogs thereof

Abstract

A method for treating pruritus comprising topical administration of formulation of vitamin D or an analog of vitamin D is disclosed. The formulation comprises a therapeutically effective, water-based emulsion, water-based suspension or oil-based formulation of vitamin D or analog of vitamin D.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating pruritus comprising topically administering vitamin D or an analog thereof in a therapeutically effective formulation which is pharmaceutically acceptable for topical application.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to    claim 1    wherein the therapeutically effective formulation is an emulsion comprising water, a water-insoluble organic liquid, a surface active agent, and vitamin D or an analog thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to    claim 2    wherein the vitamin D comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of alacalcidol, calcifediol, calcitriol, cholecalciferol, dihydrotachysterol and ergocalciferol.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to    claim 2    wherein the analog of vitamin D comprises a vitamin D compound having side-chain modifications of introduction of unsaturation; transposing, adding, removing or substituting hydroxyl groups; substituting hydrogens; forming carbocyclic structure; introducing a heteroatom link; inverting stereochemically; removing or adding alkyl groups; or changing the number of links in the side chain.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to    claim 2    wherein the surface active agent is selected from the group consisting of PEG-40 stearate, steareth-2, PEG-40 sorbitan peroleate, laureth-23 and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to    claim 5    wherein the therapeutically effective formulation comprises at least about 50% water, from about 1 to about 5% PEG-40 stearate, from 1 to about 5% steareth-2 and cholecalciferol at a concentration of about 10 μg/ml.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to    claim 6    wherein the therapeutically effective formulation comprises cholecalciferol at a concentration of at least about about 2.5 μg/ml.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to    claim 7    wherein the pruritus results from a condition selected from the group consisting of chickenpox, shingles, plant toxins such as poison ivy, insect bites, chronic kidney failure, liver diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis and alcoholic cirrhosis, malabsorption syndromes such as steatorhea, HIV infection, AIDS related eosinophilic pustular folliculitus, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, photosensitivity disorders, lichen planus, polycythemia vera, Grover's disease, glanuloma annulare, lichen nitidus, prurigo nodularis, macular amyloidosis, urticaria pigmentosa, aquagenic pruritus, pemphigus vulgarus, lupis vulgaris, healing cuts and burns, senile pruritus, hypereosinophilic syndrome, chronic uticaria, pruritic eye conditions, stress, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to    claim 1    wherein the therapeutically effective formulation comprises vitamin D or analog thereof and a water insoluble organic liquid.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to    claim 9    wherein the vitamin D comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of alacalcidol, calcifediol, calcitriol, cholecalciferol, dihydrotachysterol and ergocalciferol.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to    claim 9    wherein the analog of vitamin D comprises a vitamin D compound having side-chain modifications of introduction of unsaturation; transposing, adding, removing or substituting hydroxyl groups; substituting hydrogens; forming carbocyclic structure; introducing a heteroatom link; inverting stereochemically; removing or adding alkyl groups; or changing the number of links in the side chain.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to    claim 10    wherein the water-insoluble organic liquid is selected from the group consisting of corn oil, petroleum jelly and fish oil.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to    claim 12    wherein the therapeutically effective formulation contains at least about 521 μg cholecalciferol per ml.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to    claim 13    wherein the pruritus results from a condition selected from the group consisting of chickenpox, shingles, plant toxins such as poison ivy, insect bites, chronic kidney failure, liver diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis and alcoholic cirrhosis, malabsorption syndromes such as steatorhea, HIV infection, AIDS related eosinophilic pustular folliculitus, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, photosensitivity disorders, lichen planus, polycythemia vera, Grover's disease, glanuloma annulare, lichen nitidus, prurigo nodularis, macular amyloidosis, urticaria pigmentosa, aquagenic pruritus, pemphigus vulgarus, lupis vulgaris, healing cuts and burns, senile pruritus, hypereosinophilic syndrome, chronic uticaria, pruritic eye conditions, stress, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 1    wherein the therapeutically effective formulation is a suspension comprising water and a dispersed phase containing vitamin D or analog thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to    claim 15    wherein the vitamin D comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of alacalcidol, calcifediol, calcitriol, cholecalciferol, dihydrotachysterol and ergocalciferol.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to    claim 15    wherein the analog of vitamin D comprises a vitamin D compound having side-chain modifications of introduction of unsaturation; transposing, adding, removing or substituting hydroxyl groups; substituting hydrogens; forming carbocyclic structure; introducing a heteroatom link; inverting stereochemically; removing or adding alkyl groups; or changing the number of links in the side chain.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to    claim 16    wherein the dispersed phase comprises stearic acid and hydrogenated soybean oil and squalene.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to    claim 18    wherein the therapeutically effective formulation contains at least about 10 μg cholcalciferol per ml.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to    claim 19    wherein the pruritus results from a condition selected from the group consisting of chickenpox, shingles, plant toxins such as poison ivy, insect bites, chronic kidney failure, liver diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis and alcoholic cirrhosis, malabsorption syndromes such as steatorhea, HIV infection, AIDS related eosinophilic pustular folliculitus, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, photosensitivity disorders, lichen planus, polycythemia vera, Grover's disease, glanuloma annulare, lichen nitidus, prurigo nodularis, macular amyloidosis, urticaria pigmentosa, aquagenic pruritus, pemphigus vulgarus, lupis vulgaris, healing cuts and burns, senile pruritus, hypereosinophilic syndrome, chronic uticaria, pruritic eye conditions, stress, and combinations thereof.