Use of leptin for treating human lipoatrophy and method of determining predisposition to said treatment

Abstract

Leptin, leptin analogs, and leptin derivatives are used to treat patients with lipoatrophy. Leptin is effective against conditions of lipoatrophy for both genetic and acquired forms of the disease. A therapeutically effective amount of leptin can be administered in a variety of ways, including subcutaneously and using gene therapy methods. Methods of the present invention contemplate administration of leptin, leptin analogs, and leptin derivatives to patients having a leptin level of approximately 4 ng/ml or less before treatment.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of determining a predisposition of a lipoatrophic patient to respond to treatment with leptin, leptin analog, or leptin derivative, the method comprising:
 (a) determining a leptin level in the patient prior to said treatment; and   (b) ascertaining whether the leptin level is less than or equal to approximately 4 ng/ml.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said patient is a male and said leptin level is less than or equal to approximately 2 ng/ml prior to treatment. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said patient is a female. 
     
     
         28 . A method of determining a predisposition of a lipoatrophic patient to respond to treatment with leptin, leptin analog, or leptin derivative, the method comprising:
 (a) determining a leptin level in the patient prior to said treatment; and   (b) ascertaining whether the leptin level of (i) a male patient is less than or equal to approximately 2 ng/ml, or (ii) a female patient is less than or equal to approximately 4 ng/ml.   
     
     
         29 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . An improved kit for determining the predisposition of a human patient with lipoatrophy to respond to treatment with leptin, leptin analog or leptin derivative, the improvement comprising means for determining whether the leptin level of the patient prior to said leptin treatment is:
 (i) less than or equal to approximately 2 ng/ml if said patient is male, or   (ii) less than or equal to approximately 4 ng/ml if said patient is female.