Transdiscal Administration Of Specific Inhibitors Of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract

The present invention relates to injecting a high specificity cytokine antagonist into a diseased intervertebral disc.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of assessing a degenerating disc, comprising:
 a) removing a portion of the nucleus pulposus from the degenerating disc of the patient;   b) diagnosing a level of pro-inflammatory cytokine in a material derived from the portion;   c) comparing the diagnosed level against a pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine;   d) determining whether the diagnosed level exceeds the pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, wherein a diagnosed level that exceeds the pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine indicates that the pro-inflammatory cytokine is causing unwanted inflammatory action.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is an interleukin. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the predetermined level for an interleukin is at least 100 pg/ml. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the steps of:
 e) concluding that the diagnosed level is causing unwanted inflammatory action; and 
 f) injecting into the degenerating disc a therapeutic. 
 
     
     
         25 . A method of therapeutically treating a patient having a degenerating disc, comprising:
 a) removing a portion of the nucleus pulposus from the degenerating disc of the patient,   b) diagnosing a level of pro-inflammatory cytokine in a material derived from the removed nucleus pulposus,   c) comparing the diagnosed levels against pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine,   d) determining if the diagnosed level exceeds the pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine,   e) based upon the determination, injecting into the degenerating disc a therapeutic injectate.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the therapeutic injectate comprises autologous cultured chondrocytes derived from the disc of the patient. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is an interleukin. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined level for an interleukin is at least 100 pg/ml. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the therapeutic injectate is selected based upon the determination that the diagnosed level exceeds the pre-determined level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine.