Essential fatty acids in the prevention of cardiovascular events

Abstract

The invention concerns the use of essential fatty acids with a high content in eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA) or a high concentration mixture thereof in the preparation of a medicament useful for preventing mortality, in particular due to sudden death, in patients who have suffered from a myocardial infarction.

1 . A method for preventing mortality in a patient who has survived a myocardial infarction, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a medicament containing essential fatty acids containing a mixture of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA) wherein the content in EPA+DHA in such mixture is greater than 25% b.w. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the content in EPA+DHA in such mixture is from about 30 to about 100% b.w. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the content in EPA+DHA in such mixture is about 85% b.w. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicament is administered orally. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the medicament is administered orally at a dosage from about 0.7 g to about 1.5 g daily. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the EPA/DHA ratio in the EPA+DHA mixture is about 0.9/1.5. 
   
   
       7 . A method for preventing sudden death in a patient, who is survivor of myocardial infarction, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a medicament containing essential fatty acids containing a mixture of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA), wherein the content in EPA+DHA in such mixture is greater than 25% b.w. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the content in EPA+DHA in such mixture is from about 30 to about 100% b.w. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the content in EPA+DHA in such mixture is about 85% b.w. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the medicament is administered orally. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the medicament is administered orally at a dosage from about 0.7 g to about 1.5 g daily. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the EPA/DHA ration in the EPA+DHA mixture is about 0.9/1.5. 
   
   
       13 . A method for preventing morality in a patient who has survived a myocardial infarction, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a medicament containing essential fatty acids with a content in eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) or in docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA) greater than 25% b.w. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the contention EPA or DHA is form about 60 to about 100% b.w. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the medicament is administered orally. 
   
   
       16 . A method for preventing sudden death in a patient who is survivor of myocardial infarction, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a medicament containing essential fatty acids with a content in eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA) greater than 25% b.w. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the content in EPA or DHA is from about 60 to about 100% b.w. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the medicament is administered orally.