Pharmaceutical Composition Comprising Botulinum Toxin for Treating Knee Joint Pain by Saphenous Nerve Entrapment

Abstract

There is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising botulinum toxin and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier for treating pain in the knee joint caused by saphenous nerve entrapment. The composition of the present invention is for subcutaneous injection above the medial side of the knee.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising botulinum toxin and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier for treating pain in the knee joint by saphenous nerve entrapment. In use, the composition of the present invention is injected subcutaneously above the medial side of the knee.BACKGROUND ART[0002]As is well known, a knee joint consists of an inside and an outside. It has often been believed that the knee pain is caused by problems of the inside of the joint. However, receptors, which function to transport pain, are more present around the joint than the inside of the joint. Furthermore, autoradiography reveals that the level of knee injury is not necessarily directly proportional to the level of pain in the knee. With age, a man typically has injury to the inside of the joint while the outside of the joint undergoes various changes.[0003]The saphenous nerve is a nerve that transfers the pain of the medial side of the knee. The entr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]Other advantage of the present invention is that the composition of the present invention does not disturb the normal secretion of acetylcholine without any paralysis of muscles or other soft tissue. In contrast, if the botulinum toxin is used in the conventional pain treatment method, there are several side effects to be considered (e.g., luxation of temporomandibular joint in injecting the toxin to the muscle of the joint). For example, the hypersensitive receptor responds as if many acetylcholine acts thereon even when a small amount of acetylcholine is present.

[0029]The conventional botulinum toxin injection is administered deeply in a muscle in order to block secretion of acetylcholine, thereby paralyzing the muscle. In contrast, the present invention does not significantly consider whether or not acetylcholine secretes. It administers the toxin injection in order to block the response of the hypersensitive receptor on secretion of a small amount of acetylcholine, to which the normal receptor does not respond. Therefore, the present invention achieves its desired objective by using a small amount of botulinum toxin and it is not necessary to inject the toxin formulation deeply into the muscle for paralyzing the muscle as in the prior art. Such mechanism and method have not been suggested in any of the publications or documents.

[0030]As described above, US patent publication 2003/0224019 discloses that the botulinum toxin type B can be used for treating pain. Further, US patent publication 2004/028704 describes that the pain derived from carpal tunnel syndrome

Problems solved by technology

It has often been believed that the knee pain is caused by problems of the inside of the joint.

Furthermore, autoradiography reveals that the level of knee injury is not necessarily directly proportional to the level of pain in the knee.

The entrapment of the nerve also causes pain in the knee.

As such, it is virtually impossible to diagnose the entrapment by electroneuromyography when the nerve is in the rest state.

However, a drug which efficiently treats the pain associated

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