Methods of treating hypertriglyceridemia

Abstract

In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing cardiovascular-related disease and, in particular, a method of blood lipid therapy comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing large vLDL particle concentration in a subject having a fasting baseline triglyceride level of about 500 mg/dl to about 1500 mg/dl comprising administering to the subject about 2 g to about 4 g per day ethyl eicosapentaenoate thereby to produce a reduction in large vLDL particle concentration. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said reduction is statistically significant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein administering to the subject about 2 g to about 4 g per day of ethyl eicosapentaenoate produces a reduction in large vLDL particle concentration by comparison with a baseline large vLDL particle concentration prior to initiation of administration. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the reduction in large vLDL particle concentration is at least a 2.5% reduction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the reduction in large vLDL particle concentration is at least a 10% reduction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the reduction in large vLDL particle concentration is at least a 20% reduction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the reduction in large vLDL particle concentration is at least about 24% reduction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subject is administered about 3.8 g to about 4 g per day of ethyl eicosapentaenoate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subject is administered ethyl eicosapentaenoate for a period of 12 weeks. 
     
     
         10 . A method of reducing small LDL particle concentration in a subject having a fasting baseline triglyceride level of about 500 mg/dl to about 1500 mg/dl comprising, administering to the subject about 2 g to about 4 g per day of ethyl eicosapentaenoate thereby to produce a reduction in small LDL particle concentration by comparison with a baseline small LDL particle concentration prior to initiation of administration. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the reduction in small LDL particle concentration is at least a 5% reduction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the reduction in small LDL particle concentration is at least a 9% reduction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the subject is administered about 3.8 g to about 4 g per day of ethyl eicosapentaenoate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the subject is administered ethyl eicosapentaenoate for a period of 12 weeks.