Method for reducing oxalate

Abstract

A method for reducing oxalate levels in a patient that includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of non-absorbable amine polymers such as a polymer characterized by a repeat unit having the formula: and salts and copolymers thereof, where n is a positive integer and x is zero or an integer between 1 and about 4.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for reducing oxalate levels in a patient in need thereof comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of one or more aliphatic amine polymers.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is characterized by a repeat unit having a formula selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and salts and copolymers thereof, where n is a positive integer and x is zero or an integer between 1 and about 4, y and z are integers of one or more and R, R 1 , R 2  and R 3 , independently, is H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkylamino or aryl group.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said polymer is crosslinked by means of a multifunctional crosslinking agent, said agent being present in an amount from about 0.5-25% by weight, based upon the combined weight of monomer and crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said crosslinking agent is present in an amount from about 2.5-20% by weight, based upon the combined weight of monomer and crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said crosslinking agent comprises epichlorohydrin.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the polymer is a homopolymer.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the polymer is a polyallylamine.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the polymer is a polydiallylamine.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the polymer is a polyvinylamine.  
     
     
         10 . The polymer according to  claim 3  wherein at least one of R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  in each formula is hydrogen.