Use of polyunsaturated fatty acids for the primary prevention of major cardiovascular events

Abstract

The use of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the ω-3 series such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C 20:5 ω-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C 22:6 ω-3), or their pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives is described for the primary prevention of major cardiovascular events in subjects who have not undergone previous infarct episodes.

1 . Use of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the ω-3 series for the preparation of a drug useful in the primary prevention of a major cardiovascular event in subjects who have not undergone previous infarct episodes, wherein the fatty acids comprise eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and/or at least one pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, in quantities greater than or equal to 25 wt % on the total fatty acid weight.  
     
     
         2 . Use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the major cardiovascular event is infarct.  
     
     
         3 . Use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the major cardiovascular event is infarct of the myocardium.  
     
     
         4 . Use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the major cardiovascular event is death from a cardiological cause.  
     
     
         5 . Use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the major cardiovascular event is sudden death.  
     
     
         6 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subjects are cardiopathic.  
     
     
         7 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subjects are affected by coronary ischemia.  
     
     
         8 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subjects are affected by arrhythmia, fibrillation, electrical hyperexcitability of the myocardium cells, disorder of diffusion of the electrical excitement and of electrical conduction of the myocardium.  
     
     
         9 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subjects are affected by cardiac disorders of mechanical type.  
     
     
         10 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subjects are affected by cardiac insufficiency.  
     
     
         11 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subjects are affected by cardiac decompensation.  
     
     
         12 . Use as claimed in any one of claims from 6 to 11, wherein the subjects are affected by diabetic pathology concomitant with cardiopathy.  
     
     
         13 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the content of EPA and/or DHA and/or of the at least one derivative thereof is between 50% and 100% by weight on the total fatty acid weight.  
     
     
         14 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the content of EPA and/or DHA and/or of the at least one derivative thereof is between 75% and 95% by weight on the total fatty acid weight.  
     
     
         15 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the content of EPA and/or DHA and/or of the at least one derivative thereof is equal to about 85% by weight on the total fatty acid weight.  
     
     
         16 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one derivative of EPA and/or DHA is selected from the corresponding C 1 -C 3  alkyl esters and/or acids and/or salts with pharmaceutically acceptable bases.  
     
     
         17 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drug comprises EPA ethylester and/or DHA ethylester.  
     
     
         18 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drug is administered orally.  
     
     
         19 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drug is in the form of soft gelatin capsules.  
     
     
         20 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drug is administered at a dose of 0.1-3.0 g per day.  
     
     
         21 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drug is administered at a dose of 0.3-2.0 g per day.  
     
     
         22 . Use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drug is administered at a dose of 1.0 g per day.  
     
     
         23 . A method for the primary prevention of a major cardiovascular event in subjects who have not undergone previous infarct episodes, comprising the administration of an effective dose of a drug claimed in any one of the preceding claims.  
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the major cardiovascular event is infarct.  
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the major cardiovascular event is infarct of the myocardium.  
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the major cardiovascular event is death from a cardiological cause.  
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the major cardiovascular event is sudden death.