Cooling of localized areas of the body for cerebral blood flow augmentation

Abstract

Methods are described for augmenting cerebral blood flow and altering sympathetic nerve firing and catecholamine release by cooling a part of the body. In particular localized cooling of the nose or mouth is used to augment cerebral blood flow and alter sympathetic nerve firing. By cooling a localized area such as nose or mouth, release of norepinephrine after an ischemic event is inhibited. The methods described may be applied to augment cerebral blood flow and alter catecholamine release, particularly in treatment of stroke, heart attack and transient ischemic event.

1 . A method of altering sympathetic nerve firing comprising cooling part of the body of a patient in need thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cooling is to 0.5 to 4° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cooling is to 1-3° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cooling is to about 2° C. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cooling is continuous or discontinuous. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cooling is for 1-60 minutes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the part of the body is selected from nose, mouth, hands, feet, finger(s), toe(s), neck, shoulders and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the part of the body comprises the nose. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein cooling is by a nasopharyngeal device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein altering sympathetic firing in the patient comprises altering levels of catecholamines. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the catecholamine is epinephrine, norepinephrine or combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein sympathetic nerve firing is inhibited, the catecholamine is norepinephrine and the norepinephrine levels are decreased. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , whereby sympathetic tone is augmented in the part of the body that is cooled. 
     
     
         14 . A method of decreasing catecholamine levels comprising cooling a part of the body of a patient in need thereof, in an amount sufficient to decrease levels of one or more catecholamines. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the body part is cooled to 0.5 to 4° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the body part is cooled to 1-3° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the body part is cooled to about 2° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the levels of catecholamines are decreased by 20-80%. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling occurs in the nose or mouth. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling occurs in an artery of the patient. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the artery is selected from the group consisting of left or right common artery, left or right internal carotid artery, left or right middle carotid artery, anterior cerebral artery, left or right vertebral artery, and basilar artery. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the cooling is accomplished by a nasopharyngeal device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling is transcutaneous or endovascular. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling is maintained for 1-60 minutes. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein cooling is continuous or discontinuous.