Composition and/or method for preventing onset and/or recurrence of cardiovascular events

Abstract

Provided are composition and/or methods useful in preventing onset and/or recurrence of cardiovascular events, especially in patients who have escaped the unstable period after cardiovascular angioplasty or in hyperlipidemia patients who have been treated with HMG-CoA RI.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing risk of onset and/or recurrence of cardiovascular events in a patient who has escaped the unstable period after cardiovascular angioplasty,
 comprising starting to administer a pharmaceutical composition to the patient after the patient has escaped the unstable period,   wherein said composition contains an effective amount of icosapentaenoic acid.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient suffers from hyperlipidemia. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the hyperlipidemic patient has a serum triglyceride of 150 mg/dl or higher. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of icosapentaenoic acid in the composition is orally administered at an amount of 0.3 g/day to 6.0 g/day. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of icosapentaenoic acid in the composition is orally administered at an amount of 0.9 to 3.6 g/day. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of icosapentaenoic acid in the composition is orally administered at an amount of 1.8 to 2.7 g/day. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further contains other fatty acids or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cardiovascular angioplasty is selected from the group consisting of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), percutaneous transluminal coronary recanalization (PTCR), directional coronary atherectomy (DCA), coronary stent implantation (coronary artery stenting), and coronary artery bypass grafting (AC bypass grafting). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient has received percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition starts to be administered to the patient later than six months after the cardiovascular angioplasty. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the patient for at least one year. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the patient for at least two years. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of a capsule. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the proportion of icosapentaenoic acid in the total content of fatty acids or derivatives thereof is 40% by weight or more. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the proportion of icosapentaenoic acid in the total content of fatty acids or derivatives thereof is 96.5% by weight or more. 
     
     
         16 . A method for reducing risk of onset and/or recurrence of cardiovascular events in a patient after six months have passed since cardiovascular angioplasty,
 comprising starting to administer a pharmaceutical composition to the patient after six months have passed since the cardiovascular angioplasty,   wherein said composition contains an effective amount of icosapentaenoic acid; and   wherein the cardiovascular event is selected from the group consisting of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular angioplasty, new onset of rest angina, new onset of effort angina, and destabilization of angina pectoris.   
     
     
         17 . A method for reducing the incidence rate of a cardiovascular event in a group of patients who have escaped the unstable period after cardiovascular angioplasty,
 comprising starting to administer a pharmaceutical composition to the patient after the patient has escaped the unstable period,   wherein said composition comprises an effective amount of icosapentaenoic acid; and   wherein the cardiovascular event is selected from the group consisting of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular angioplasty, new onset of rest angina, new onset of effort angina, and destabilization of angina pectoris.