Claims for Patent: 4,457,942

Summary for Patent: 4,457,942

Title:	Process for waste nitrogen removal
Abstract:	A method of alleviating the accumulation of waste nitrogen in human beings is disclosed, wherein phenylbutyrate, or even numbered conger thereof, is administered to a patient having such waste nitrogen accumulation. The phenylbutyrate or other compound is broken down by beta-oxidation to eventually yield phenylacetate, which is known to be useful for removing waste nitrogen from the blood stream. The present invention provides a solution to the offensive odor of phenylacetate, which is unpalatable to patients, and also can eliminate peaks and valleys of drug levels in the patient, due to the gradual formation of the desired compound phenylacetate in the patient's body.
Inventor(s):	Brusilow; Saul W. (Baltimore, MD)
Assignee:
Application Number:	06/410,018
Patent Claims:	1. A process for controlling waste nitrogen accumulation disease in a patient suffering from such waste nitrogen accumulation disease caused by an impairment in the normal synthesis of urea from ordinary waste nitrogen in the body or in the normal excretion thereof, said process comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of at least one compound of the formula: ##STR3## wherein n is 2, 4, 6 or 8, or a pharmaceutically, acceptable salt thereof, and wherein the amount of said compound administered to the patient is sufficient to produce enough phenylacetate to react with waste nitrogen to form an amino acylation product for urinary discharge of said product. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the administration is continued until the accumulated waste nitrogen is discharged as urinary nitrogen. 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the patient is one with a urea cycle enzymopathy. 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the patient is one suffering from renal failure. 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the patient is one suffering from a hepatic failure. 6. The process of claim 1 wherein said compound is phenylbutyrate, or a salt thereof. 7. The process of claim 1 wherein the salt is the calcium salt. 8. The process of claim 1 wherein the salt is the sodium salt. 9. The process of claim 1 wherein the compound is orally administered. 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered intravenously.