Essential n-3 fatty acids in cardiac insufficiency 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 . Use of an essential fatty acid containing a mixture of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) and of docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA) in the preparation of a medicament useful for the prevention and treatment of a heart disease chosen from cardiac insufficiency and heart failure, both chronic and acute.  
     
     
         2 . Use according to  claim 1 , wherein the medicament is for the combined therapy with another therapeutic agent.  
     
     
         3 . Use according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the content in EPA+DHA in the mixture is higher than 25% by weight.  
     
     
         4 . Use according to  claim 3 , wherein the content in EPA+DHA is from about 30% and about 100% by weight.  
     
     
         5 . Use according to  claim 3 , wherein the content in EPA+DHA is about 85% by weight.  
     
     
         6 . Use according to  claim 3 , wherein in EPA+DHA mixture, EPA is present in an amount ranging from about 25% to about 45% by weight and DHA is present in an amount ranging from about 55% to about 75% by weight.  
     
     
         7 . Use according to  claim 3 , wherein the EPA/DHA ratio is about 0.6-1.1/1.3-1.8.  
     
     
         8 . Use according to  claim 5 , wherein the EPA/DHA ratio is about 0.9/1.5.  
     
     
         9 . Use according to  claim 5 , wherein the essential fatty acid is administered by oral route at a dose ranging from about 0.7 g and about 1.5 g daily.  
     
     
         10 . Use according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the heart disease is cardiac insufficiency.  
     
     
         11 . Use according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the heart disease is heart failure.  
     
     
         12 . Use according to  claim 11 , wherein heart failure is chronic or acute.  
     
     
         13 . Use according to  claim 2 , wherein the therapeutic agent for the combined therapy is chosen from ACE-inhibitors, NEP-inhibitors, ACE/NEP-inhibitors, angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, positive inotropic drugs, phosphodieserase inhibitors, arteriolar and venular vasodilators, beta-blockers and digitalis glycosides or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         14 . Use according to  claim 13 , wherein the therapeutic agent for the combined therapy is chosen from one or more agents chosen from 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 and compound Z13752A.  
     
     
         15 . Use according to each of the previous claims, wherein the treated patient is a person older than 60 years.  
     
     
         16 . Use according to each of the previous claims wherein the treated patient is a person suffering from other cardiopathic disorders.  
     
     
         17 . Use according to each of the previous claims, wherein the treated patient is a person who survived a myocardial infarction.  
     
     
         18 . A method for preventing and treating a heart disease chosen from cardiac insufficiency and heart failure, both chronic and acute, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an unsaturated essential acid containing a mixture of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA).  
     
     
         19 . A method to prevent and treat a heart disease chosen from cardiac insufficiency and heart failure, both chronic and acute, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an essential fatty acid containing a mixture of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA), in combination with another therapeutic agent.