Method for detecting, treating, and monitoring conditions associated with activation of the coagulation response

Abstract

Disclosed is a method that includes steps of identifying conditions each associated with a low level activation of the coagulation response; conducting a clinical evaluation of a patient to determine a possibility that the patient has one of the conditions; if the clinical evaluation indicates the possibility that the patient has one of the conditions, providing a panel of different quantitative blood tests each capable of providing one of an abnormal result indicative of a low level activation of the coagulation response, and a normal result; performing the panel of different quantitative blood tests on the patient; obtaining a result for each of the blood tests; observing the results; and if at least two of the results are abnormal, using the abnormal results to assist in diagnosing the patient with the one of the conditions.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for diagnosing a condition associated with activation of the coagulation response comprising: 
 a. Testing the blood of a patient to determine if activation of the coagulation response is indicated.    
     
     
         2 . A method for diagnosing and treating a condition associated with activation of the coagulation response comprising: 
 a. Testing the blood of a patient to determine if activation of the coagulation response is present;    b. Determining that there is activation of the coagulation response; and    c. Treating the patient using low dose anticoagulant therapy.    
     
     
         3 . A method for diagnosing, treating and monitoring a condition associated with activation of the coagulation response comprising: 
 a. Utilizing a grouping of blood tests to determine if activation of the coagulation response is present;    b. Determining that there is activation of the coagulation response;    c. Treating the patient using low dose anticoagulant therapy; and    d. Monitoring the recovery using said grouping of blood tests.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said grouping of blood tests comprises: 
 a. A test to determine the level of fibrinogen;  
 b. A test to determine the level of prothrombin fragment 1+2;  
 c. A test to determine the level of thrombin/antithrombin complexes; and  
 d. A test to determine the level of soluable fibrin monomer.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said condition is diagnosed by at least two of said tests in said grouping of blood tests indicating activation of the coagulation response.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is chronic fatigue syndrome.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is fibromyalgia.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is multiple sclerosis.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is gulf war illness.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is breast implant sickness syndrome.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is inflammatory bowel disease.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is autism.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is Sjorens syndrome.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is late Lyme disease.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition transient ischemic attack.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is attention deficit disorder.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is Alzheimer's disease.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is Parkinson's disease.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is fetal wastage syndrome.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said condition is a cardiovascular disease.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said grouping of blood tests comprises: 
 a. A test to determine the level of fibrinogen;  
 b. A test to determine the level of prothrombin fragment 1+2;  
 c. A test to determine the level of thrombin/antithrombin complexes; and  
 d. A test to determine the level of soluble fibrin monomer; and  
 e. A test to determine the level of platelet activation.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said condition is diagnosed by at least two of said tests in said grouping of blood tests indicating activation of the coagulation response.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is chronic fatigue syndrome.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is fibromyalgia.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is multiple sclerosis.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is gulf war illness.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is breast implant sickness syndrome.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is inflammatory bowel disease.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is autism.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is Sjorens syndrome.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is late Lyme disease.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition transient ischemic attack.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is attention deficit disorder.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is Alzheimer's disease.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is Parkinson's disease.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is fetal wastage syndrome.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said condition is a cardiovascular disease.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said low dose anticoagulant therapy is heparin.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said low dose anticoagulant therapy is heparin followed by warfarin.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said low dose anticoagulant therapy is warfarin.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said low dose anticoagulant therapy is heparin.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said low dose anticoagulant therapy is heparin followed by warfarin.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said low dose anticoagulant therapy is warfarin