Compositions and methods for treating purpura

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to compositions and methods for the treatment of purpura. Preferred compositions comprise an α adrenergic receptor agonist selected from selective α 1 adrenergic receptor agonist, selective α 2 adrenergic receptor agonist, non-selective α 1 /α 2 adrenergic receptor agonist, agents with α 2 adrenergic receptor agonist activity and combinations thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in order to treat and improve the cosmetic appearance of hemorrhagic (purpuric) lesions in the skin.

1 . A method for treating or preventing non-thrombocytopenic purpura in a subject undergoing a procedure, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an α adrenergic receptor agonist selected from a selective α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist, a selective α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist and combinations thereof;   wherein the procedure is a procedure involving physical trauma to the skin and/or cutaneous vasculature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the procedure comprises the injection of a neurotoxin or filler for soft-tissue augmentation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the procedure comprises the injection of a filler for soft-tissue augmentation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is administered before, during or after the procedure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is administered during the procedure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is administered by injection. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is administered before, during or after the procedure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is administered during the procedure. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purpura comprises petechiae or ecchymoses. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from oxymetazoline, naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, methoxamine, metaraminol, midodrine, desglymidodrine, cirazoline, amidephrine, brimonidine, clonidine, guanfacine, guanabenz, apraclonidine, xylazine, medetomidine, dexmedetomidine, amethyldopa, epinephrine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol, dipivefrin, pseudoephedrine, mephentermine, phenylpropanolamine, propylhexadrine, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, ephedrine, epinine, ethylnorepinephrine, levarterenol, lofexidine, methamphetamine, α-methylnorepinephrine, methylphenidate, mivazerol, moxonidine, norepinephrine, norphenylephrine, pemoline, tizanidine and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from the group of α 1  adrenergic receptor agonists consisting of oxymetazoline, naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, methoxamine, metaraminol, midodrine, desglymidodrine, cirazoline, and amidephrine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist is phenylephrine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from the group of α 2  adrenergic receptor agonists consisting of brimonidine, clonidine, guanfacine, guanabenz, apraclonidine, xylazine, medetomidine, dexmedetomidine, and α-methyldopa. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist is brimonidine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering is performed by injection of a formulation comprising the α adrenergic receptor agonist and a polymeric material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering is performed by injection of a formulation comprising the α adrenergic receptor agonist and a gel phase carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the gel phase carrier comprises a material selected from the group of materials comprising calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, a sugar, a starch, a cellulose derivative, a gelatin, and a polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the gel phase carrier comprises a sugar. 
     
     
         21 . A method for preventing non-thrombocytopenic purpura in a subject undergoing injection of a filler for soft tissue augmentation, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an α adrenergic receptor agonist selected from a selective α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist, a selective α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is administered before, during or after the injection of the filler. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is administered during the injection of the filler. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is administered by injection during injection of the filler. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the purpura comprises petechiae or ecchymoses. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from oxymetazoline, naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, methoxamine, metaraminol, midodrine, desglymidodrine, cirazoline, amidephrine, brimonidine, clonidine, guanfacine, guanabenz, apraclonidine, xylazine, medetomidine, dexmedetomidine, amethyldopa, epinephrine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol, dipivefrin, pseudoephedrine, mephentermine, phenylpropanolamine, propylhexadrine, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, ephedrine, epinine, ethylnorepinephrine, levarterenol, lofexidine, methamphetamine, α-methylnorepinephrine, methylphenidate, mivazerol, moxonidine, norepinephrine, norphenylephrine, pemoline, tizanidine and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from the group of α1 adrenergic receptor agonists consisting of oxymetazoline, naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, methoxamine, metaraminol, midodrine, desglymidodrine, cirazoline, and amidephrine. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist is phenylephrine. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from the group of α2 adrenergic receptor agonists consisting of brimonidine, clonidine, guanfacine, guanabenz, apraclonidine, xylazine, medetomidine, dexmedetomidine, and α-methyldopa. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist is brimonidine. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administering is performed by injection of a formulation comprising the α adrenergic receptor agonist and a polymeric material. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administering is performed by injection of a formulation comprising the α adrenergic receptor agonist and a gel phase carrier. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the gel phase carrier comprises a material selected from the group of materials comprising calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, a sugar, a starch, a cellulose derivative, a gelatin, and a polymer. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the gel phase carrier comprises a sugar. 
     
     
         37 . A composition for treating or preventing non-thrombocytopenic purpura in a subject undergoing injection of a filler for soft tissue augmentation, the composition comprising:
 a gel phase carrier; and   a therapeutically effective amount of an α adrenergic receptor agonist selected from a selective α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist, a selective α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from oxymetazoline, naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, methoxamine, metaraminol, midodrine, desglymidodrine, cirazoline, amidephrine, brimonidine, clonidine, guanfacine, guanabenz, apraclonidine, xylazine, medetomidine, dexmedetomidine, amethyldopa, epinephrine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol, dipivefrin, pseudoephedrine, mephentermine, phenylpropanolamine, propylhexadrine, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, ephedrine, epinine, ethylnorepinephrine, levarterenol, lofexidine, methamphetamine, α-methylnorepinephrine, methylphenidate, mivazerol, moxonidine, norepinephrine, norphenylephrine, pemoline, tizanidine and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from the group of α 1  adrenergic receptor agonists consisting of oxymetazoline, naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, methoxamine, metaraminol, midodrine, desglymidodrine, cirazoline, and amidephrine. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 40 , wherein the α 1  adrenergic receptor agonist is phenylephrine. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the α adrenergic receptor agonist is α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from the group of α 2  adrenergic receptor agonists consisting of brimonidine, clonidine, guanfacine, guanabenz, apraclonidine, xylazine, medetomidine, dexmedetomidine, and α-methyldopa. 
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the α 2  adrenergic receptor agonist is brimonidine.