Methods and Compositions for Treatment of Acute Lung Injury

Abstract

A method of treating acute lung injury (ALI) in a patient suspected of having ALI is disclosed. The method includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating acute lung injury (ALI) in a patient suspected of having ALI, the method comprising:
 administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ALI is induced by inhalation or aspiration of a chemical irritant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the chemical irritant is selected from a group consisting of chlorine gas, smoke, phosgene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administering comprises orally administering, intravenous administering, intramuscular administering or aerosol administering. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the administering comprises orally administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the administering comprises intravenous administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the administering comprises intramuscular administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the iNOS inhibitor is (S)-2-amino-(1-iminoethylamino)-5-thioheptanoic acid (GW274150). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising one or more of the following steps:
 monitoring an alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient in the patient before or after the administering;   monitoring a ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen (PaO 2 /FiO 2  ratio) in the patient before or after the administering;   monitoring an oxygenation index in the patient before or after the administering;   monitoring an airway resistance in the patient before or after the administering;   monitoring a peak inspiratory pressure in the patient before or after the administering;   monitoring a lung dynamic compliance in the patient before or after the administering;   monitoring an oxygen saturation drop in the patient before or after the administering;   monitoring a mean airway pressure in the patient before or after the administering; or   monitoring a lung vascular leakage in the patient before or after the administering.   
     
     
         10 . A method of treating acute lung injury (ALI) in a patient suspected of having ALI, the method comprising:
 a) measuring one or more properties in the patient, the one or more properties selected from the group consisting of:
 a ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen (PaO 2 /FiO 2  ratio) in the patient; 
 an oxygenation index in the patient; 
 an airway resistance in the patient; 
 a peak inspiratory pressure in the patient; 
 a lung dynamic compliance in the patient; 
 an oxygen saturation drop in the patient; 
 a mean airway pressure in the patient before; 
 a lung vascular leakage in the patient; and 
 combinations thereof; 
   b) subsequent to step a), administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor; and   c) subsequent to step b), monitoring the one or more properties in the patient.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ALI is induced by inhalation or aspiration of a chemical irritant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the chemical irritant is selected from a group consisting of chlorine gas, smoke, phosgene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the administering comprises orally administering, intravenous administering, intramuscular administering or aerosol administering. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the administering comprises orally administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the administering comprises intravenous administering. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the administering comprises intravenous administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the administering comprises intramuscular administering. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the administering comprises intramuscular administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the iNOS inhibitor is (S)-2-amino-(1-iminoethylamino)-5-thioheptanoic acid (GW274150).