This invention defines novel compositions that can be used for clinical
treatment of a class of chronic inflammatory diseases. Increased
generation of carbonyl substances, namely aldehydes and ketones, occurs
at sites of chronic inflammation and is common to the etiologies of all
of the clinical disorders addressed herein. Such carbonyl substances are
cytotoxic and additionally serve to perpetuate and disseminate the
inflammatory process. This invention defines use of compositions, the
orally administered required primary agents of which are primary amine
derivatives of benzoic acid capable of covalently reacting with the
carbonyl substances. p-Aminobenzoic acid (or PABA) is an example of the
required primary agent of the present invention. PABA has a small
molecular weight, is water soluble, has a primary amine group which
reacts with carbonyl-containing substances and is tolerated by the body
in relatively high dosages for extended periods. The method of the
present invention includes administration of a composition comprising:
(1) an orally consumed therapeutically effective amount of at least one
required primary agent; (2) at least one required previously known
medicament co-agent recognized as effective to treat a chronic
inflammatory disease addressed herein administered to the mammalian
subject via the oral route, other systemic routes of administration or
via the topical route; and (3) optionally one or more additional orally
consumed co-agent selected from the group consisting of antioxidants,
vitamins, metabolites at risk of depletion, sulfhydryl co-agents,
co-agents which may facilitate glutathione activity and nonabsorbable
primary amine polymeric co-agents, so as to produce an additive or
synergistic physiological effect of an anti-inflammatory nature.
