Treatment of respiratory diseases

Abstract

A method for treating a mammal suffering from a respiratory disease characterized by acute intermittent or chronic obstruction of the airways of the lungs, such as asthma, acute asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis comprising delivering to the lungs of the mammal a perfluorocarbon and a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and pharmaceutical compositions of CO 2 and perfluorocarbons are provided. The acute relief of airway obstruction provided by the said treatment provides an opportunity for concomitant or subsequent delivery of additional suitable active agent of conventional treatments.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition having therapeutic synergy for treating a mammal suffering from a respiratory disease characterized by intermittent or chronic obstruction of the airways of the lungs by dilating the airways, comprising a perfluorocarbon and CO 2 . 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is a therapeutically effective amount of perfluorocarbon and the CO 2  is a therapeutically effective amount of CO 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of CO 2  is a concentration of CO 2  sufficient to give a CO 2  concentration in the lungs of at least 2% of the mammal's total lung capacity, wherein the total lung capacity comprises the fluid volume of the lung when fully inflated during normal breathing, when the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the mammal. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of CO 2  is a concentration of CO 2  sufficient to give a CO 2  concentration in the lungs of about 2% to about 20% of the mammal's total lung capacity, wherein the total lung capacity comprises the fluid volume of the lung when fully inflated during normal breathing, when the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the mammal. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  is in the form of a gas mixture further comprising oxygen. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a suitable active agent. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 6 , wherein the active agent is an anti-inflammatory agent or a bronchodilator or both. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 6 , wherein the active agent is salbutamol. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of perfluoro-alkanes, perfluoroethers, perfluoro amines, perfluorodecalin, perfluorohexane, octafluoropropane, perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, perfluorobutane, perfluorooctane, perefluoromethyldecalin, perfluorocarbons containing bromide, perfluorooctylbromide, perfluorodecalin, perfluorooctylethane, bis(perfluorobutyl)ethane, FC-43, FC-40, FC-5312, FC-77, FC-75, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of FC-43, FC-77, perfluorodecalin, perfluorooctylbromide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for dilating a constricted airway of the lungs of a mammal comprising introducing into the lungs a therapeutically effective amount of a perfluorocarbon. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of perfluoro-alkanes, perfluoroethers, perfluoro amines, perfluorodecalin, perfluorohexane, octafluoropropane, perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, perfluorobutane, perfluorooctane, perefluoromethyldecalin, perfluorocarbons containing bromide, perfluorooctylbromide, perfluorodecalin, perfluorooctylethane, bis(perfluorobutyl)ethane, FC-43, FC-40, FC-5312, FC-77, FC-75, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of FC-43, FC-77, perfluorodecalin, perfluorooctylbromide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein concentration of perfluorocarbon is such that when the perfluorocarbon is delivered to the lungs, the concentration of perfluorocarbon in the lungs when the lungs are fully inflated during normal breathing is between about 1 mg/litre and about 500 mg/litre. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is a liquid, aerosol or vapour. 
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is a liquid, aerosol or vapour.