Selection and treatment of patients suffering from wasting

Abstract

The invention relates to use of a GH secretagogue (e.g. GRF or an analog thereof) for increasing muscle function in a subject. Also disclosed herein are corresponding methods, packages and compositions.

1 . A method for increasing muscle function and inhibiting the rate of onset or progression of severe wasting in a subject, wherein said severe wasting is defined as: (A) a body mass index less than or equal to 20; (B) a weight less than 90% of ideal body weight; (C) a fat free mass index less than or equal to 16 for a male; and/or (D) a fat free mass index less than or equal to 15 for a female, said method comprising administering an effective amount of (hexenoyl trans-3)hGRF(1-44)NH 2  (SEQ ID NO: 7) to said subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject suffers from a condition selected from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic renal failure, congestive hear failure, human immunodeficiency virus infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, cancer, malnutrition, frailty, immobilization paraplegia and spinal disorder 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said muscle function is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) muscle strength;   (b) muscle endurance; and   (c) both (a) and (b).   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said muscle function is muscle strength. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said muscle strength is peripheral muscle strength. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said muscle function is muscle endurance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering reduces a parameter selected from:
 (a) breathing discomfort;   (b) leg discomfort; and   (c) both (a) and (b).   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering increases lean body mass in said subject. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering decreases fat mass in said subject. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering is through a route selected from intravenous, oral, transdermal, subcutaneous, mucosal, intramuscular, intranasal, intrapulmonary, parenteral, intrarectal and topical. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering is through the subcutaneous route. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering is at a dose from about 0.0001 mg to about 4 mg. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said administering is at a dose selected from about 1 mg and about 2 mg.