Method for the treatment of inflammatory joint disease

Abstract

The use of compounds that block complement component or its active fragments C 5 a and/or C 5 b (such compounds collectively referred to as “C 5 blockers”) to treat established joint inflammation (arthritis) is disclosed. Administration of such C 5 blockers has been found to: 1) arrest and/or reduce inflammation in joints which are already inflamed, and 2) inhibit the spread of inflammation to unaffected joints.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for the treatment of established joint inflammation in a human or non-human patient in need thereof comprising administering to the patient an effective anti-inflammatory amount of a C 5  blocker.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the C 5  blocker is administered in an amount effective to inhibit the cell-lysing ability of complement present in a blood-derived fluid of the patient.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the blood-derived fluid is serum.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the C 5  blocker is administered in an amount effective to reduce the level of soluble C 5   b - 9  present in a blood-derived fluid of the patient after activation of complement in that fluid.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the blood-derived fluid is serum.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the C 5  blocker is administered in an amount effective to reduce the level of C 5   a  present in a blood-derived fluid of the patient after activation of complement in that fluid.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the blood-derived fluid is serum.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the C 5  blocker is administered in an amount effective to reduce the cell-lysing ability of complement present in the synovial fluid of an inflamed joint of the patient by at least 10%.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the C 5  blocker is administered in an amount effective to reduce the level of soluble C 5   b - 9  present in the synovial fluid of an inflamed joint of the patient by at least 10%.  
     
     
         10 . The, method of  claim 1  wherein the C 5  blocker is administered in an amount effective to reduce the level of C 5   a  present in the synovial fluid of an inflamed joint of the patient by at least 10%.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step, after the administration of the C 5  blocker, of determining the C 5   a  level and/or the C 5   b  level in the synovial fluid of an inflamed joint of the patient so as to monitor the course of the patient's response to the administration of the C 5  blocker.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the C 5   a  level is determined by an immunoassay or a chemotaxis assay.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the C 5   b  level is determined by measuring the level of soluble C 5   b - 9  in the synovial fluid or by measuring the cell-lysing ability of complement present, in the synovial fluid.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the C 5  blocker does not interfere with the cleavage of complement component C 3  in the patient's serum into C 3   a  and C 3   b.    
     
     
         15 . A article of manufacture comprising packaging material and a pharmaceutical agent contained within said packaging material, wherein: 
 (a) said pharmaceutical agent comprises a C 5  blocker which provides the agent with anti-inflammatory properties; and    (b) said packaging material comprises a label which indicates that said pharmaceutical agent is for use in the treatment of joint inflammation.    
     
     
         16 . An article of manufacture comprising packaging material and a pharmaceutical agent contained within said packaging material, wherein: 
 (a) said pharmaceutical agent comprises a C 5  blocker which provides the agent with anti-inflammatory properties; and    (b) said packaging material comprises a label which indicates that said pharmaceutical agent is for use in the treatment of arthritis.