Composition and methods for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury

Abstract

Provided herein are methods of treating a peripheral nerve injury in a subject. The methods include administering to the subject at or near the site of the peripheral nerve injury an effective amount of a composition comprising an agent that promotes remyelination of the peripheral nerve. Also provided are methods of determining whether a peripheral nerve injury has a capacity for recovery. The methods include selecting a subject with a peripheral nerve injury, administering to the subject a first dose of a composition comprising and agent that promote remyelination and detecting after the first dose one or more characteristics of peripheral nerve recovery, the presence of one or more characteristics of peripheral nerve recovery indicating a peripheral nerve injury has a capacity for recovery and the absence of characteristics of peripheral nerve recovery indicating a peripheral nerve injury without a capacity for recovery.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating or ameliorating acute peripheral nerve injury in a mammal in need thereof comprising systemically administering to the mammal with an acute peripheral nerve injury a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), wherein administration promotes recovery of the injured peripheral nerve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the administration is performed within five days after injury. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein administration comprises multiple doses of the composition comprising 4-AP. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the administration is repeated at least daily. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the administration is repeated at least twice daily. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the acute peripheral nerve injury is caused by surgery. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the acute peripheral nerve injury is a nerve crush injury. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the acute peripheral nerve injury is not a transected nerve. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising further administering a steroid to the mammal. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition further comprises a steroid. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the 4-AP is in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the systemic administration is intravenous. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the systemic administration is oral. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition is a capsule. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises cellulose or a cellulose derivative. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition comprises an extended release formulation of 4-AP.