Arthritis Treatment

Abstract

Administration of a monoclonal Ab (mAb) that specifically targets IL-1α is useful to treating articular and extra-articular symptoms of arthritis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating pain associated with arthritis in a human subject, the method comprising:
 providing a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an anti-IL-1α antibody, and administering the pharmaceutical composition to the subject in an amount effective to reduce the pain associated with arthritis in the subject, wherein the pain is reduced.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pain occurs in a joint of the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pain is in the uvea of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-IL-1α antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-IL-1α antibody is a monoclonal antibody that comprises the all of the CDRs of MABp1. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is MABp1. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by subcutaneous injection. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the eye topically. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the anti-IL-1α antibody effective to reduce pain associated with arthritis in the subject is sufficient to raise the subject's peripheral blood concentration of anti-IL-1α antibody to at least 4 micrograms/ml. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the anti-IL-1α antibody effective to reduce pain associated with arthritis in the subject is sufficient to raise monocyte vacuolization in the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mobility of the joint is improved after administration of the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the subject after an injection of corticosteroid failed to relieve the pain. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject lacked detectable endogenous anti-IL-la antibodies before administration of the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is repeatedly administered to the subject until the pain is completely resolved.