Use of xenon as neuroprotectant in a neonatal subject

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of xenon in the preparation of a medicament for preventing and/or alleviating one or more anesthetic-induced neurological deficits in a neonatal subject. The present invention further relates to combinations of xenon and sevoflurane, and use thereof as preconditioning agents for administration prior to hypoxic-ischaemic injury.

1 - 93 . (canceled) 
   
   
       94 . A method of treating, preventing, and/or alleviating anesthetic-induced neurological deficits in a neonatal subject, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of xenon to said subject. 
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the neurological deficit is associated with neuronal apoptosis, neuronal necrosis, or neuronal injury. 
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the neurological deficit is neurodegeneration. 
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the neurological deficit is a learning, memory, neuromotor, neurocognitive or psychocognitive deficit. 
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the anesthetic is a GABAergic agent. 
   
   
       99 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the anesthetic is isoflurane, sevoflurant or desflurane. 
   
   
       100 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the anesthetic is isoflurane, the neurological deficit is neuronal injury, and the method further comprises administering isoflurane to the subject. 
   
   
       101 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the anesthetic is sevoflurane, the neurological deficit is associated with neuronal injury, and the method further comprising administering sevoflurane. 
   
   
       102 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the anesthetic is desflurane, the neurological deficit is associated with neuronal injury, and the method further comprises administering desflurane. 
   
   
       103 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the xenon is administered via perfusion. 
   
   
       104 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the xenon is in gaseous form. 
   
   
       105 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the xenon is administered via inhalation. 
   
   
       106 . A method of providing anesthesia, neuroprotection, and/or analgesia to a neonatal subject, said method comprising administering xenon in combination with another anesthesia, wherein the amount of xenon is sufficient to alleviate and/or prevent anesthesia-induced neuronal injury. 
   
   
       107 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the anesthetic is isoflurane, sevoflurane or desflurane. 
   
   
       108 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the xenon is in gaseous form. 
   
   
       109 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein xenon is administered via inhalation. 
   
   
       110 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the xenon is administered via perfusion. 
   
   
       111 . The method of  claim 106 , further comprising administering a GABAergic agent. 
   
   
       112 . A method of protecting against hypoxic injury comprising:
 administering xenon in combination with an anesthetic.   
   
   
       113 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the anesthetic is sevoflurane, isoflurane or desflurane. 
   
   
       114 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the anesthetic is sevoflurane and the xenon and the sevoflurane are administered prior to the hypoxic-ischaemic injury. 
   
   
       115 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the anesthetic is sevoflurane and the xexon and the sevoflurane are administered at least about two hours prior to the hypoxic-ischaemic injury. 
   
   
       116 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein the xenon and the sevoflurane are administered from about 2 to about 24 hours prior to the hypoxic-ischaemic injury. 
   
   
       117 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the xenon and sevoflurane are administered to the mother prior to delivery, during delivery, prior to a cesarean section, during a cesarean section, or suitable combinations thereof. 
   
   
       118 . A method of treating, alleviating, and/or preventing neuronal necrosis in a subject, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of xenon to the patient.