Prevention of thrombus formation and/or stabilization

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of at least one antibody and/or one inhibitor for inhibiting factor XII and preventing the formation and/or the stabilization of three dimensional thrombi. It also relates to a pharmaceutical formulation and the use of factor XII as an anti-thrombotic target.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating a patient at risk for the formation and/or the stabilization of thrombi comprising administering to said patient at least one inhibitor of Factor XII or activated Factor XII (collectively FXII), wherein the patient has, has had, or is at risk for: venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, stroke, myocardial infarction, or use of a prosthetic device, and wherein the at least one inhibitor of FXII is not ATIII inhibitor, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, C1 inhibitor, aprotinin, alpha-1 protease inhibitor, leupeptin, ecotin, bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor mutants, antipain, or DX88. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one inhibitor is at least one protease inhibitor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one protease inhibitor is a serine protease inhibitor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one protease inhibitor is Z-Pro-Pro-aldehyde-dimethyl acetate. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one protease inhibitor is chosen from one or more of: Fmoc-Ala-Pyr-CN, corn-trypsin inhibitor, yellowfin sole anticoagulant protein, Curcurbita maxima trypsin inhibitor-V, and Curcurbita maxima isoinhibitor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the prosthetic device is a haemodialyser, cardiopulmonary by-pass circuit, vascular stent, or in-dwelling catheter. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the patient has, has had, or is at risk for venous thrombosis. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the patient has, has had, or is at risk for arterial thrombosis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the patient has, has had, or is at risk for stroke. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the patient has, has had, or is at risk for myocardial infarction.