Method for treating hypercholesterolemia with polyallylamine polymers

Abstract

A method for removing bile salts from a patient that includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a non-absorbable amine polymers characterized by a repeat unit having the formula: and salts thereof, where n is a positive integer and x is zero or an integer between 1 and about 4.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . A method of removing bile salts from a patient comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of cross-linked homopolyallylamine, 
 wherein    said cross-linked homopolyallylamine is cross-linked by a multifunctional crosslinking agent, and    said multifunctional crosslinking agent is present in an amount from 0.5-25% by weight, based upon the combined weight of allylamine repeat units and multifunctional crosslinking agent.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said multifunctional crosslinking agent is present in an amount from about 2.5-20% by weight, based upon the combined weight of allylamine repeat units and multifunctional crosslinking agent.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the patient has a serum LDL level of at least 130 mg/dL.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the multifunctional crosslinking agent comprises epichlorohydrin.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the multifunctional crosslinking Agent is epichlorohydrin.