Methods and compositions for treatment of inflammatory disease

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for controlling chronic inflammation in a patient. The compositions and methods employ D6-arachidonic acid or an ester thereof (D6-AA) as an anti-inflammatory agent that provides for significant reduction in inflammatory processes. In addition. The compositions of deuterated arachidonic acid or ester thereof comprise, on average, at least about 80% of the hydrogen atoms at each of the bis-allylic sites having been replaced by deuterium atoms and, on average, no more than about 30% of the hydrogen atoms at the mono-allylic sites having been replaced by deuterium atoms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling chronic inflammation in a patient which method comprises administering an effective amount of a composition comprising D6-arachidonic acid to said patient for an effective period of time to treat the inflammation in the patient. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chronic inflammation is associated with chronic pain in said patient and said control of said chronic inflammation reduces the level of chronic pain associated therewith. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said D6-arachidonic acid or an ester thereof having the formula where some or all of the hydrogen atoms at the 7, 10, and 13 positions have been replaced with deuterium. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said D6-arachidonic acid has the formula:
                       .   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said D6-arachidonic acid is a composition comprising arachidonic acid or an ester thereof that, on average, have at least about 80% of the hydrogen atoms at each of the bis-allylic sites replaced by deuterium atoms and, on average, no more than about 35% of the hydrogen atoms at the mono-allylic sites have been replaced by deuterium atoms. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of D6-arachidonic acid or ester thereof administered to said patient is sufficient to provide a concentration of D6-arachidonic acid in the red blood cells of said patient of at least about 12 % based on the total concentration of arachidonic acid in said red blood cells including the D6-arachidonic acid. 
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and from about 100 mg to about 2,000 mg of a composition of D6-arachidonic acid or an ester thereof that, on average, has at least about 80% of the hydrogen atoms at each of the bis-allylic sites replaced by deuterium atoms and, on average, has no more than about 35% of the hydrogen atoms at the mono-allylic sites replaced by deuterium atoms. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7 , wherein said composition comprises from about 100 mg to about 1,000 mg of a composition of D6-arachidonic acid or an ester thereof that, on average, has at least about 80% of the hydrogen atoms at each of the bis-allylic sites replaced by deuterium atoms and, on average, has no more than about 35% of the hydrogen atoms at the mono-allylic sites replaced by deuterium atoms. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7 , wherein said composition comprises from about 100 mg to about 750 mg of a composition of D6-arachidonic acid or an ester thereof that, on average, has at least about 80% of the hydrogen atoms at each of the bis-allylic sites replaced by deuterium atoms and, on average, has no more than about 35% of the hydrogen atoms at the mono-allylic sites replaced by deuterium atoms.