Method of and medicament for the treatment of disorders of the eye, namely, diabetic retinopathy and degenerative maculation of the eye wherein doses containing heparin in combination with detoxified enzymes obtained from the venom of snakes, especially the Brazilian vipers Bothrops Jararaca and Lachesis Atrox, is administered, each dose containing 2000 to 2500 I.U. of heparin in accordance with the French Pharmacopoeia and 1 to 2 coagulation units (K) of the enzyme. The composition is administered parenterally.
A method for treating retinal diseases includes administering an effective amount of midkine to patients suffering from retinal diseases. The method of the invention is effective in ameliorating optical disorders of retinas and is quite safe.
Screening tests and bioassay of von Willebrand's factor (platelet aggregating factor) in human and animal blood plasma are effected using a reagent of blood platelets and snake venom having a positive platelet aggregating cofactor effect. The reagent and tests may also suitably employ dried blood platelets. The reagent may comprise dried platelets and either ristocetin or active snake venom as the platelet aggregating cofactor.
The invention provides peptide derivatives designed to deliver peptides having growth factor inhibitory activity, especially somatostatin analogs, to the retina by sequential metabolism. The peptide derivatives, which comprise a dihydropyridine{character pullout}pyridinium salt-type redox targetor moiety, a bulky lipophilic function and an amino acid/dipeptide/tripeptide spacer, are used in the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
The invention provides peptide derivatives designed to deliver peptides having growth factor inhibitory activity, especially somatostatin analogs, to the retina by sequential metabolism. The peptide derivatives, which comprise a dihydropyridine {character pullout} pyridinium salt-type redox targetor moiety, a bulky lipophilic function and an amino acid/dipeptide/tripeptide spacer, are used in the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
A thimerosal-free hyaluronidase preparation wherein the preferred hyaluronidase enzyme is devoid of molecular weight fractions below 40,000 MW, between 60-70,000 MW and above 100,000 MW. Also disclosed is a method for accelerating the clearance of hemorrhagic blood from the vitreous humor of the eye, comprising the step of contacting at least one hemorrhage-clearing enzyme (e.g., a .beta.-glucuronidase, matrix metalloproteinase, chondroitinase, chondroitin sulfatase or protein kinase) with the vitreous humor in an amount which is effective to cause accelerated clearance of blood therefrom.
