Methods of prevention and treatment of ischemic damage

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of conferring protection on a population of cells associated with ischemia in a subject following an ischemic event, comprising: (a) providing a sulfated form of an estrogen compound intravenously; and (b) administering the effective amount of the compound over a course that includes at least one dose within a time that is effectively proximate to the ischemic event, so as to confer protection on the population of cells. Examples of ischemic events treatable according to the invention are cerebrovascular disease or stroke, subarachnoid subhemorrhage, myocardial infarct, surgery and trauma.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for conferring protection on a population of cells associated with ischemia in a subject following an ischemic event, comprising: providing a sodium sulfate form of an estrogen compound; and 
 administering by intravenous injection, an effective amount of the compound over a course that includes at least one dose within a time that is effectively proximate to the ischemic event, so as to confer protection on the population of cells.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximate time precedes the ischemic event.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximate time follows the ischemic event.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the proximate time is within 12 hours of the ischemic event.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ischemic event is selected from the group consisting of a cerebrovascular disease, subarachnoid hemorrhage, myocardial infarct, surgery and trauma.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ischemic event is a stroke.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the cells are neurons.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the cells are endothelial cells.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the estrogen compound is selected from the group consisting of alpha isomers and beta isomers of estrogen.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ischemic event is a myocardial infarct.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the estrogen compound is administered at an effective dose, wherein the effective dose provides a plasma concentration in the subject in the range of 10-500 pg/ml.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the estrogen compound is an alpha isomer of estrogen.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the estrogen compound has insubstantial sex related activity.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the ischemic event is a myocardial infarct.  
     
     
         15 . A method for protecting cells from degeneration in a subject, comprising: providing an effective dose of a sodium sulfate form of an estrogen compound in an intravenous formulation to the subject to protect cells from degeneration otherwise occurring in the absence of the estrogen compound.  
     
     
         16 . A pharmaceutical formulation, comprising: a sodium sulfate form of an estrogen compound in an intravenous delivery vehicle.