Method of treating neutrophil-related diseases with topical anesthetics

Abstract

A therapeutic method is provided to treat neutrophil-associated pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, by locally administering to a mammal in need of such treatment, an effective amount of a topical anesthetic, such as lidocaine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a neutrophil-associated pulmonary disease comprising locally administering to the respiratory tract of an afflicted human an amount of a therapeutic preparation comprising a topical anesthetic effective to counteract the symptoms of the disease, wherein the topical anesthetic is an aminoalkylbenzoate.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutic preparation is administered in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutic preparation is administered by spraying or by nebulization.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the topical anesthetic is administered at a daily dose of about 2.0-15 m/kg.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the topical anesthetic is an ester between a carboxylic acid of the general formula:  
       (R 2 )(R 3 )ArCO 2 H,  
       wherein Ar is C 6 H 3  and each R 2  and R 3  is H, halo, (R 1 )(H)N—, wherein R 1  is (C 1 -C 5 )alkyl, H 2 N—, or (C 2 -C 5 )alkoxy; and an alcohol of the general formula:  
       (R 4 )(R 5 )N(X)OH  
       wherein X is a (C 1 -C 5 ) branched-or straight-chain alkylene; R 4  is H or (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, R 5  is (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, or R 4  and R 5  taken together can be a 5 or 6-membered heterocycloalkiphatic ring, optionally substituted by (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl or comprising an additional ring 0- or N-atom; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the topical anesthetic is an aminoalkylbenzoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the topical anesthetic is procaine, chloroprocaine, dyclonine, tetracaine, benoxinate, proparacaine, meprylcaine, piperocaine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the neutrophil-associated pulmonary disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis (CB), cystic fibrosis, α-1 anti-trypsin deficiency, pulmonary emphysema, adult respiratory distress syndrome, or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.