Abnormal intraocular pressure treatment

Abstract

Methods and compositions for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient, particularly a human patient, are described. In particular, compositions are disclosed that contain an anthocyanoside or an extract comprising it, a proanthocyanidin or an extract comprising it and combinations thereof. The compositions are useful for lowering intraocular pressure.

1 . A method for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of an anthocyanoside, a proanthocyanidin or a combination thereof until said intraocular pressure is reduced. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising administering to said patient therapeutically effective amounts of at least one anthocyanoside and at least one proanthocyanidin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one proanthocyanidin is an extract comprising at least one proanthocyanidin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one anthocyanoside is an extract comprising at least one anthocyanoside. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said patient is a human patient. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said patient has an intraocular pressure, in at least one eye, of between 15 mm Hg to 18 mm Hg, between 18 mm Hg to 21 mm Hg, between 21 mm Hg to 25 mm Hg, or between 25 mm Hg to 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said patient has an intraocular pressure, in at least one eye, of greater than 15 mm Hg, greater than 21 mm Hg, greater than 25 mm Hg, or greater than 30 mm Hg. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said extract comprises a plant extract. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said plant extract is a pine bark extract, a grape seed extract or an extract of apples, peanut skin, walnuts, pomegranates, tomatoes, almonds, tea, hawthorn or cocoa. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said pine bark extract is from a pine of the  Pinus pinaster  species. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said grape seed extract is from  Vitis vinifera  species. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said extract comprises a plant extract. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the plant extract is a red fruit extract. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the red fruit extract is from  Vaccinium myrtillus.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the red fruit extract is from blueberry, cherry, cranberry, red grapes, black cherry, blackcurrant, chokeberry, eggplant, orange, raspberry, or redcurrant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the therapeutically effective amounts of the at least one anthocyanoside and the at least one proanthocyanidin administered is between 0.5 and 10 mg/kg/day. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said patient is a patient with ocular hypertension. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said ocular hypertension comprises the following symptoms:
 (a) an intraocular pressure greater than 21 mm Hg in one or both eyes as measured by applanation tonometry on 2 or more occasions; 
 (b) an absence of glaucomatous defects on visual field testing; 
 (c) normal appearance of the optic disc and nerve fiber layer; and 
 (d) open angles on gonioscopy, with no history of angle closure. 
 
     
     
         19 . A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prevention of high or abnormal intraocular pressure comprising (1) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of an anthocyanoside, a proanthocyanidin or a combination thereof, and (2) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , comprising therapeutically effective amounts of at least one anthocyanoside and at least one proanthocyanidin. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one proanthocyanidin is an extract comprising at least one proanthocyanidin. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one anthocyanoside is an extract comprising at least one anthocyanoside. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein said extract comprises a plant extract. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said plant extract comprises a pine bark extract, a grape seed extract or an extract of apples, peanut skin, walnuts, pomegranates, tomatoes, almonds, tea, hawthorn or cocoa. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein said pine bark extract is from a pine of the  Pinus pinaster  species. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein said grape seed extract is from  Vitis vinifera  species. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said extract comprises a plant extract. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein said plant extract is a red fruit extract. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 28 , wherein the red fruit extract is from  Vaccinium myrtillus.    
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein the red fruit extract is from blueberry, cherry, cranberry, red grapes, black cherry, blackcurrant, chokeberry, eggplant, orange, raspberry, or redcurrant. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein said composition is administered at a dosage of 50 to 500 mg/day of at least one proanthocyanidin and 100 to 1000 mg/day of at least one anthocyanoside. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 20 , for the treatment of ocular hypertension wherein said ocular hypertension comprises the following symptoms:
 (a) an intraocular pressure greater than 21 mm Hg in one or both eyes as measured by applanation tonometry on 2 or more occasions;   (b) an absence of glaucomatous defects on visual field testing;   (c) normal appearance of the optic disc and nerve fiber layer; and   (d) open angles on gonioscopy, with no history of angle closure.