Reducing post-operative adhesion formation with intraperitoneal glutamine

Abstract

Intraperitoneal administration of glutamine to reduce adhesions in the peritoneum of a patient.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition for intraperitoneal administration comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least one glutamine source. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one glutamine source is a soluble peptide containing L-glutamine. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the soluble peptide is a dipeptide. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the dipeptide is alanylglutamine. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one glutamine source is L-glutamine. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition is formulated as a gel. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is impregnated in a surgical material. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the surgical material is a mesh. 
     
     
         9 . A medical device comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A delivery device containing the composition of  claim 1 , wherein the device is for delivery of the composition intraperitoneally during surgery. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating a patient to reduce post-operative adhesion formation comprising intraperitoneal administration of an effective amount of a glutamine source to said patient. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glutamine source comprises L-glutamine amino acid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glutamine source comprises a soluble peptide containing L-glutamine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the peptide is a dipeptide. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dipeptide is alanyl-glutamine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glutamine source is delivered to the peritoneal cavity during surgery. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glutamine source is in a gel formulation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glutamine source is placed on or is impregnated in a surgical material or an implantable medical device.