Method For The Prevention And Treatment Of Diseases Caused By An Inflammatory Response Mediated By Endogenous Substance P By Using Anti-Substance P Antibodies

The present invention provides methods for preventing or treating a disease in a subject which is caused by an inflammatory response to a disease or syndrome which is mediated by endogenous substance P. These methods comprise the administration to the subject of a pharmaceutically-effective amount of anti-substance P antibodies, or anti-substance P antibody fragments, such as F(ab).sub.2 fragments, thereby inhibiting the activity of endogenous substance P in the subject. By inhibiting the activity of endogenous substance P in the subject, the levels of cytokines produced by T lymphocytes present in the subject are reduced, the signals which direct the inflammatory response to the infection become altered, and the amount of cytokine-induced inflammation becomes reduced. Respiratory syncytial virus is one example of an agent which causes an infection which often results in a disease caused by an inflammatory response to the infection mediated by endogenous substance P. Generally, from about 0.001 mg to about 10 g of anti-substance P antibodies, or anti-substance P antibody fragments, per kilogram of body weight per day are administered to a mammalian subject, with from about 1 mg to about 1000 mg of anti-substance P antibodies, or anti-substance P antibody fragments, per kilogram of body weight per day being preferred.