Antagonists of IL-6 to prevent or treat thrombosis

摘要

The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat thrombosis or hypercoagulation in patients having, or at risk of developing, diseases associated with abnormal blood coagulation or fibrinolysis and/or patients which are at increased risk or are being treated by a regimen that renders the patient at increased susceptibility to hypercoagulation or thrombosis such as patients who have previously had a stroke or heart attack or persons on a treatment regimen with a drug or chemotherapy and/or radiation that is associated with increased risk of thrombosis or hypercoagulation. In preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting elevated D-dimer or other coagulation cascade related proteins and optionally will further exhibit elevated C reactive protein prior to treatment. The subject therapies also may include the administration of other actives such as chemotherapeutics, anti-coagulants, statins, et al.

主权项

1. A method of treating or reducing the risk of thrombosis in a patient at increased risk of developing thrombosis or hypercoagulation because of an underlying disease or treatment regimen potentially resulting in increased D-dimer levels, comprising administering to the patient a medicament comprising an anti-IL-6 antibody or anti-IL-6 antibody fragment in an amount effective to reduce D-dimer levels and thereby reduce the risk of said patient developing hypercoagulation or thrombosis, wherein the anti-IL-6 antibody or anti-IL-6 antibody fragment blocks the binding of human IL-6 to IL-6R1 and further blocks the binding of IL-6 to gp130, and further wherein said treatment method includes monitoring D-dimer levels before and/or after administration of the medicament to assess the patient's coagulation profile status.