Use of vanadium compounds for maintaining normaglycemia in a mammal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for maintaining normoglycemia in a mammal in need thereof, preferably a critically ill patient suffering from acute stress, and to a method for preventing or limiting renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in a mammal, preferably in a critically ill patient suffering from acute stress.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for maintaining normoglycemia in a critically ill patient suffering from acute stress, comprising administering to the critically ill patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable organic and/or inorganic vanadium compound or complex. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the critically ill patient is non-diabetic. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the acute stress is induced by an injury, an insult, a trauma, a medical treatment, an infection, a stroke, coronary bypass surgery or a treatment of myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein blood glucose levels are maintained between about 80 and about 110 mg/dl. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the physiologically acceptable organic and/or inorganic vanadium compound or complex is administered parenterally. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the physiologically acceptable organic and/or inorganic vanadium compound or complex is administered intravenously. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is carried out for one to seven days. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising administering insulin or an insulin analogue to the critically ill patient. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising administering an anti-arrhythmic drug to the critically ill patient. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising administering a nutritional supplement to the critically ill patient. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the nutritional supplement is selected from the group of magnesium, fish oil, potassium, copper, selenium, vitamin D, vitamin E, chromium and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method for preventing or limiting renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in a critically ill patient suffering from acute stress, comprising administering to the critically ill patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable organic and/or inorganic vanadium compound or complex. 
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable organic vanadium compound or complex, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and an ingredient selected from the group consisting of magnesium, fish oil, potassium, copper, selenium, vitamin D, vitamin E, chromium, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for preventing or treating contrast-induced nephropathy in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal a pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable organic and/or inorganic vanadium compound or complex. 
     
     
         15 . A method for the prevention, limitation or treatment of cardio-renal disorders in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal a pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable organic and/or inorganic vanadium compound or complex. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the mammal is a critically ill patient suffering from acute stress.