Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving antigen-antibody binding – specific binding protein...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-26
2001-06-26
Le, Long V. (Department: 1641)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving antigen-antibody binding, specific binding protein...
C435S007100, C435S007200, C435S007210, C435S007240, C435S007250, C435S174000, C435S177000, C435S178000, C435S219000, C435S355000, C435S372000, C436S015000, C436S016000, C436S501000, C436S517000, C436S063000, C424S130100, C424S141100, C424S145100, C424S158100, C514S052000, C514S258100, C210S647000, C530S387200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06251611
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides a means for determining whether a patient has volume dependent hypertension and, more specifically, it provides such a method based upon determining if a substantial reduction in phosphorylation of a specific protein exists. The invention also relates to a diagnostic apparatus employable in making such determination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Elevated blood pressure or hypertension has long been recognized as a health problem. It is a very common disease which can have widespread effects on a patient's body and frequently, unlike numerous other diseases, is asymptomatic.
Despite known means of measuring blood pressure of a patient as by a sphygmomanometer, for example, there is lacking an accurate reliable means of detecting the presence of volume dependent hypertension involving higher arterial blood pressure by use of a body specimen, such as blood serum or blood plasma.
From a pathogenic standpoint, essential hypertension may be divided into two broad categories (a) volume expansion, hypertension, and (b) vasoconstriction hypertension. It has been estimated that about 30 to 40 percent of human essential hypertension may be permanently related to volume expansion hypertension, especially in certain demographic groups. Previous studies participated in by the present inventor have demonstrated an alteration in the phosphorylation of a proximal tubular membrane protein following acute saline expansion of the experimental rat (Puschett et al. Volume Expansion Induced Changes in Renal Tubular Membrane Protein Phosphorylation, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 143: pp. 74-80 (1987)).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has met the above-described need by providing a method of determining the presence of volume dependent hypertension which includes determining if there has been a substantial reduction in phosphorylation of a blood-derived protein present in blood and, if such reduction exists, concluding that volume dependent hypertension exists. It may be employed in determining the presence of chronic volume expansion hypertension in a patient and may effectively be determined independent of the presence or absence of vasoconstriction hypertension in the patient.
It is preferred that the reduction in phosphorylation exceed about 20 percent and preferably be at least about 20 to 30 percent before making a determination that chronic volume dependent hypertension exists. A blood component, such as blood serum or blood plasma containing the blood protein, may be employed in the practice of the method of the present invention. One embodiment employs an antibody to detect the protein.
After a determination of the presence of chronic volume expansion hypertension, one may employ any desired means of treating the patient to effect reduction of the same, while periodically monitoring progress.
The invention also contemplates apparatus for determining the presence of chronic volume dependent hypertension in a patient which includes means for receiving a patient blood specimen containing the blood-derived protein and means for determining if the protein has substantially reduced phosphorylation. The blood specimen may be blood serum or blood plasma. It may also employ an antibody.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a method and associated apparatus for determining the presence of chronic volume expansion hypertension in a patient in a reliable and rapid manner.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which facilitates such a determination and may employ a patient body specimen, such as blood serum or blood plasma.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a diagnostic system which will rely on substantial reduction in phosphorylation of a blood-derived protein in effecting a determination that chronic volume expansion hypertension exists.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a system which is reliable and will effectively distinguish chronic volume expansion hypertension from acute volume expansion hypertension, vasoconstriction hypertension and other types of hypertension.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method and related apparatus which is economical and may be practiced by paraprofessional personnel in an accurate manner.
These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the invention on reference to the illustrations appended hereto.
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Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott , LLC
Gabel Gailene R.
Le Long V.
Silverman Arnold B.
Tulane University Medical Center
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