Compositions for Diagnosis and Treatment of Anemia

Abstract

Compositions including a fatty acid, such as an odd chain fatty acid or a very long even chain fatty acid, and salts and derivatives thereof, and methods for treatment and prophylaxis of conditions related to anemic conditions, are provided, including compositions and methods for treating anemic conditions such as hemolytic anemia and anemia of chronic disease, and other related conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition for treatment of an anemic condition, wherein the anemic condition is selected from the group consisting of hemolytic anemia, thalassemia, hereditary spherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, pyruvate kinase deficiency, immune hemolytic anemia, alloimmune hemolytic anemia, drug-induced hemolytic anemia, mechanical hemolytic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, anemia of chronic disease, anemia, aplastic anemia, congenital hypoplastic anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, Fanconi anemia, iron deficiency anemia, anemia of abnormal RBC size, megaloblastic anemia, microcytic anemia, vitamin deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia, anemia of RBC mutation, sideroblastic anemia, and sickle cell anemia, the pharmaceutical composition comprising:
 at least ten percent of one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids are selected from the group consisting of C15:0, C17:0, and combinations thereof; and   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids is heptadecanoic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of any one of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the composition is substantially free from even-chain fatty acids. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids is behenic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one odd-chain saturated fatty acid and at least one very long even-chain fatty acid. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids comprises heptadecanoic acid and behenic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition of any one of  claims 1  through  6 , wherein the composition is in a unit dosage form. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of any one of  claims 1  through  7 , configured for administration of from 1.0 mg to 11 mg, per 1 kg of body weight, of the one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof to a patient. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition of any one of  claims 1  through  8 , configured for administration once per day. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition of any one of  claims 1  through  9 , comprising from 0.01 mg to 10000 mg of the one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.