Essential n-3 fatty acids in cardiac in sufficiency and heart failure therapy

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method of therapeutic prevention and treatment of a heart disease chosen from cardiac insufficiency and heart failure including the administration of an essential fatty acid containing a mixture of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA), either alone or in combination with another therapeutic agent.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . A method to prevent or treat a heart disease chosen from cardiac insufficiency and heart failure, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an essential fatty acid comprising eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA), in combination with another therapeutic agent. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the content of EPA+DHA in the essential fatty acid is higher than 25% by weight. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the content of EPA+DHA in the essential fatty acid is from about 30% to about 100% by weight. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the content of EPA+DHA in the essential fatty acid is about 85% by weight. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the essential fatty acid is orally administered at a dose of from about 0.7 g to about 1.5 g daily. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the heart disease is cardiac insufficiency. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the heart disease is heart failure. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the heart failure is chronic. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the heart failure is acute. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the therapeutic agent for the combined therapy is selected from the group consisting of ACE-inhibitors, NEP-inhibitors, ACE/NEP-inhibitors, angiotensin 11 converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, positive inotropic drugs, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, arteriolar and venular vasodilators, beta blockers, digitalis glycosides, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the another therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, fosinopril, cilazapril, benazapril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril, delapril, omapatrilat, sampatrilat, Z13752A, candesartan, valsartan, losartan, hydrochlorothiazide, trichloromethiazide, chlorothiazide, chlortalidone, triamterene, clofenamide, furosemide, torasemide, ethacrynic acid, etozoline, spironolactone, amiloride, dopamine, ibopamine, amrinone, milrinone, enoximone, bucladesine, hydralazine, isosorbide dinitrate, visoprolol, practotol, metoprolol, bucindol, carvedilol, atenolol, bisoprolol, celiprolol, nevibolol, acetyl digitoxin, acetyldigoxin, digitoxin, digoxin, lanatoside C, deslanoside, methyldigoxin, metidigoxin, gitoformat, pimobendan, vesnarinone, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the therapeutic agent for the combined therapy is selected from the group consisting of cilazapril, captopril, enalapril, candesartan, valsartan, losartan, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, dopamine, ibopamine, amrinone, enoximone, hydralazine, isosorbide dinitrate, visopropol, carvedilol, metoprolol, digitoxin, digoxin, acetyldigoxin, metidigoxin, pimobendan, omapatrilat, sampatrilat, the compound Z13752A, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the treated patient is a person older than 60 years. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the treated patient is a person suffering from other further cardiopathic disorders. 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the treated patient is a person who survived a myocardial infarction.