Use of a Neuregulin to Treat Peripheral Nerve Injury

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to use of neuregulins to prevent or treat peripheral nerve injury, to attenuate, ameliorate or avoid the loss of peripheral nerve function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preventing or treating a peripheral nerve injury comprising administering an effective amount of a neuregulin to a subject at risk of suffering a peripheral nerve injury or to a subject having an existing peripheral nerve injury. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neuregulin is administered prior to a surgical procedure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical procedure is a prostate cancer surgery. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the prostate cancer surgery is a prostatectomy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein neuregulin is administered to an expectant mother prior to delivery of an infant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein neuregulin is administered to a patient prior to a treatment for breast cancer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the treatment for breast cancer is a complete or partial mastectomy. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating or prophylaxing an erectile dysfunction resulting from peripheral nerve injury, comprising administering an effective amount of neuregulin to a subject having a peripheral nerve injury resulting in erectile dysfunction or a subject at risk of suffering such a peripheral nerve injury, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . A method of diagnosing the etiology of erectile dysfunction in a patient, said method comprising steps of:
 administering an effective amount of neuregulin to a patient having an erectile impairment; and thereafter,   identifying if the erectile dysfunction lessens;   whereby, if there is a lessening of the erectile dysfunction following the administering step, the patient is diagnosed as having erectile dysfunction consequent to peripheral nerve damage.