Methods for alleviating symptoms associated with neuropathic conditions comprising administration of low levels of antibodies

Abstract

The invention provides methods and compositions for alleviating the symptoms of neuropathic conditions with a pharmaceutical composition including an effective amount of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of alleviating symptoms of neuropathic conditions comprising the step of administering anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibody in an amount effective to alleviate symptoms of said neuropathic condition.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic conditions are selected from the group consisting of autism, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit disorder, diabetic neuropathy and pain neuropathy associated with chemotherapy treatment.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the anti-GAD antibodies are monoclonal antibodies.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the administration step is oral.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the administration step is sublingual.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the anti-GAD antibodies are administered in an enterically protected form.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the administration step is by injection.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the administration step is by subcutaneous injection.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising less than 1.0 mg of anti-GAD antibodies.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  comprising less than 1.0 μg of anti-GAD antibodies.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  comprising from 1×10 −6  to 1×10 −2  μg of anti-GAD antibodies.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  comprising from 1×10 −5  to 1×10 −2  μg of anti-GAD antibodies.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-GAD antibody is specific for GAD-65.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-GAD antibody is specific for GAD-67.  
     
     
         15 . A pharmaceutical composition for administration to a subject for alleviating symptoms of neuropathic conditions comprising less than 1.0 mg of anti-GAD antibodies.  
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 15  comprising less than 0.1 μg of anti-GAD antibodies.  
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 15  comprising from 1×10 6  to 1×10 −2  μg of anti-GAD antibodies.  
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 15  comprising from 1×10 −5  to 1×10 −2  μg of anti-GAD antibodies.  
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 15 , wherein the antibodies are specific for GAD-65.  
     
     
         20 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 15 , wherein the antibodies are specific for GAD-67.