Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosis

Abstract

A method of treating SLE symptoms of an SLE patient comprising administering to an SLE patient an amount of vitamin D compound effective to reduce symptoms and observing a reduction in symptoms is disclosed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of treating proteinuria symptoms in an SLE patient comprising administering a dose of vitamin D compound effective to reduce or eliminate proteinuria to an SLE patient with a calcium intake level of at least 800 mg/day/160 patient.  
     
     
         2 . A method of treating swollen lymph node symptoms in an SLE patient comprising administering a dose of vitamin D compound effective to reduce or eliminate swollen lymph nodes to an individual susceptible to SLE patient with a calcium intake level of at least 800 mg/day/160 patient.  
     
     
         3 . A method of treating SLE symptoms in individuals susceptible to SLE, comprising administering an amount of vitamin D compound effective to prevent symptoms in the individual to an individual susceptible to SLE with a calcium intake level of at least 800 mg/day/160 patient.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient's calcium intake is first adjusted to at least 800 mg/day/160 lb patient, followed by treatment with the vitamin D compound.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the patient's calcium intake is first adjusted to at least 800 mg/day/160 lb patient, followed by treatment with the vitamin D compound.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the patient's calcium intake is first adjusted to at least 800 mg/day/160 lb patient, followed by treatment with the vitamin D compound.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vitamin D compounds are lα-hydroxy compounds.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the compound is 1,25 (OH) 2 D 3 .  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of vitamin D analog administered is between 0.5 and 25 μg per day per 160 pound patient.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of vitamin D analog administered is between 0.5 and 0.75 μg per day per 160 pound patient.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the vitamin D analog administered is administered orally and daily.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vitamin D analog is co-administered with calcium supplements.  
     
     
         13 . A method of treating reducing proteinuria in an SLE patient comprising the steps of 
 administering to an SLE patient, wherein the SLE patient has lymph node swelling an amount of the following compound effective to reduce SLE symptoms:                          wherein X 1  and X 2  are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyl:    wherein Y l  and y 2  can be H, or one can be 0-aryl, 0-alkyl, aryl, alkyl of 1-4 carbons, taken together to form an alkene having the structure of                          where B 1  and B 2  can be selected from H, alkyl of 1-4 carbons and aryl or alkyl and can have a β or α configuration;    Z 1 ═Z 2 ═H or Z 1  and Z 2  together are ═CH 2 ; and    wherein R is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or fluoroalkyl group, or R may represent the following side chain:                          wherein (a) may have an S or R configuration, R 1  represents hydrogen, hydroxy or O-acyl, R 2  and R 3  are each selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and fluoralkyl-, or, when taken together represent the group-(CH 2 ) m — wherein m is an integer having a value of from 2 to 5, R 4  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, fluorine, O-acyl, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and fluoralkyl, wherein if R 5  is hydroxyl or fluoro, R 4  must be hydrogen or alkyl, R 5  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, fluorine, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and fluoroalkyl, or R 4  and R 5  taken together represent double-bonded oxygen, R 6  and R 7  taken together form a carbon-carbon double bond, R 8  may be H or CH 3 , and wherein n is an integer having a value of from 1 to 5 and wherein the carbon at any one of positions 20, 22, or 23 in the side chain may be replaced by an O, S, or N atom.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the lymph node swelling is reduced.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the patient has an adjusted calcium intake of at least 800 mg/day/160 lb patient.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the compound is selected from the group of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 , 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 , 19-nor-21-epi-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 , 1,25-dihydroxy-24-homo-22-dehydro-22 Å vitamin D 3 , and 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxy-24-homo-22-dehydro-22E-vitamin D 3 .  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the amount of compound administered is between 0.5 and 10 μg per day per 160 pound patient.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the amount of compound administered is between 0.5 and 0.75 μg per day per 160 pound patient.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the amount of compound administered is between 0.5 and 25 μg per day per 160 pound patient.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the dose is given orally and daily.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the patient is on a low calcium diet.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the administering is at night.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the compound dose is given orally and wherein the patient's calcium intake is at least 800 mg/day/160 lb patient.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the patient's calcium intake is supplemented with calcium supplements.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the compound and calcium supplement are co-adiministered.