Methods of administering and evaluating nitrogen scavenging drugs for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods for treating hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and for optimizing and adjusting nitrogen scavenging drug dosage for subjects with HE.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in a subject comprising:
 (a) measuring a fasting blood ammonia level;   (b) comparing the fasting blood ammonia level to the upper limit of normal for blood ammonia; and   (c) administering sodium phenylbutyrate to the subject if the fasting blood ammonia level is greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal for blood ammonia.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the subject has previously been administered a first dosage of sodium phenylbutyrate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dosage of sodium phenylbutyrate administered in step (c) is greater than the first dosage. 
     
     
         16 . A method of optimizing the dosage of a nitrogen scavenging drug for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) comprising:
 (a) administering a first dosage of sodium phenylbutyrate;   (b) measuring a fasting blood ammonia level;   (c) comparing the fasting blood ammonia level to the upper limit of normal for blood ammonia to determine whether to increase the dosage of sodium phenylbutyrate, wherein the dosage needs to be increased if the fasting blood ammonia level is greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal for blood ammonia; and   (d) administering a second dosage of sodium phenylbutyrate based on the determination in (c).   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a step of determining the upper limit of normal for blood ammonia for the subject. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of determining the upper limit of normal for blood ammonia for the subject. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the upper limit of normal blood ammonia is 35 μmol/L. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the upper limit of normal blood ammonia is 35 μmol/L.