Therapeutic strategies for the treatment of preeclampsia

Abstract

Compositions and methods for treating preeclampsia in a subject in need thereof are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating preeclampsia in a subject in need thereof, comprising inhibiting production and/or secretion and or effects of AVP or lowering the concentration of AVP in the blood of the subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical compound that inhibits production and/or secretion and/or effects of AVP in the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical compound inhibits the effects of AVP by inhibiting an arginine vasopressin receptor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the arginine vasopressin receptor comprises at least one of V1A, V2, and V1B. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical compound is tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) or a chemically related compound. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical compound is a vasopressin receptor antagonist. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the pharmaceutical compound is selected from the group consisting of conivaptan, tolvaptan, and relcovaptan, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of AVP is lowered using an extracorporeal therapy technique. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the extracorporeal therapy technique comprises at least one of apheresis, hemodialysis, and hemofiltration. 
     
     
         11 . A composition for treatment of preeclampsia, comprising:
 a therapeutically effective amount of a first arginine vasopressin receptor inhibitor; and   a therapeutically effective amount of a second arginine vasopressin receptor inhibitor.   
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the first arginine vasopressin receptor inhibitor comprises a first vaptan drug and the second arginine vasopressin receptor inhibitor comprises a second vaptan drug. 
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical dosage form comprising the composition of  claim 12  and one or more pharmaceutically suitable carriers, diluent, and/or excipients. 
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical dosage form of  claim 13 , wherein the dosage form comprises an oral, injection, infusion, inhalation, transdermal, or implant dosage form. 
     
     
         15 . A composition for treatment of preeclampsia, comprising
 a therapeutically effective amount of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) or a chemically related compound; and   a therapeutically effective amount of an arginine vasopressin receptor inhibitor.