Facilitation of resuscitation from cardiac arrest by erythropoietin

Inventors

GAZMURI RAUL J., null • Gazmuri, Raúl J.

Assignees

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science • US Department of Veterans Affairs

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the use of erythropoietin (EPO) to facilitate resuscitation from cardiac arrest. For a mammalian subject suffering from cardiac arrest, concurrent administration of EPO with resuscitation after the onset of ventricular fibrillation facilitates the resuscitation. Administration of EPO serves to attenuate myocardial abnormalities caused by cardiac arrest and the resuscitation efforts and favor improved resuscitation outcomes.

Core Innovation

The invention relates generally to the use of erythropoietin (EPO) to facilitate resuscitation from cardiac arrest in a mammalian subject. Administration of EPO concurrently with cardiac resuscitation after the onset of cardiac arrest serves to attenuate myocardial abnormalities caused by cardiac arrest and resuscitation efforts, thereby favoring improved resuscitation outcomes.

Cardiac arrest involves the cessation of effective heart contractions, causing global ischemia and cell injury due to oxygen starvation. Resuscitation efforts, although necessary to restore circulation, can lead to reperfusion injury and myocardial abnormalities such as ischemic contracture, ventricular ectopic activity, recurrent fibrillation, and reversible systolic and diastolic dysfunction. These myocardial abnormalities compromise successful resuscitation.

The invention solves the problem of poor resuscitation outcomes from cardiac arrest, which in the United States result in very low survival rates with intact neurological function despite emergency medical efforts. It addresses the challenge of not only reestablishing cardiac activity but minimizing injury to vital organs during ischemia and reperfusion following cardiac arrest.

The invention discloses that administration of EPO during cardiac arrest and resuscitation prevents ischemic contracture, facilitates electrical defibrillation, promotes post-resuscitation electrical stability, ameliorates myocardial dysfunction, and improves short-term survival. Studies in a rat model of ventricular fibrillation demonstrate that EPO facilitates hemodynamically more effective chest compressions, improves post-resuscitation mean aortic pressure, and enhances cardiac work, thereby facilitating successful resuscitation.

Claims Coverage

The patent contains two independent claims covering methods of preserving left ventricular myocardial distensibility during cardiopulmonary resuscitation by administering erythropoietin concurrent with resuscitation.

The independent claims focus on administering wildtype or recombinant erythropoietin concurrent with cardiac resuscitation in order to preserve myocardial distensibility and improve the hemodynamic efficacy of chest compressions, specifically by increasing the coronary perfusion pressure to compression depth ratio. The administration can occur anytime from the onset of cardiac arrest through post-resuscitation. The claims also cover diverse cardiac resuscitation methods and administration routes.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications