Use of remote ischemic conditioning to improve outcome after myocardial infarction

Abstract

The invention provides methods for reducing the incidence and/or severity and/or delaying the onset of heart dysfunction/failure and improving overall survival through the use of remote ischemic per-conditioning and post-conditioning.

1 . A method comprising
 performing repeated remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) regimens on a subject after a myocardial infarction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the repeated RIC regimens are commenced within 1 week or within 1 month of the myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has not undergone prior ischemic conditioning prior to the myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has not undergone prior ischemic conditioning during the myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the prior ischemic conditioning is remote or local. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has undergone prior ischemic conditioning. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the prior ischemic conditioning occurred prior to the myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising
 performing repeated remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) regimens on a subject after a myocardial infarction, wherein the subject has experienced ischemic conditioning remotely or locally during the myocardial infarction.   
     
     
         9 . A method for reducing the incidence, delaying the onset, and/or reducing the severity of heart dysfunction and/or heart failure comprising
 performing repeated remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) regimens on a subject during and after a myocardial infarction.   
     
     
         10 . A method comprising
 performing repeated remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) regimens on a subject having a myocardial infarction, wherein a first RIC regimen is performed during the myocardial infarction and subsequent RIC regimens are performed at least every three days after the first RIC regimen.   
     
     
         11 . A method comprising
 performing repeated remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) regimens on a subject having a myocardial infarction, wherein a first RIC regimen is performed during the myocardial infarction and subsequent RIC regimens are performed daily after the first RIC regimen.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein subsequent RIC regimens are performed every two days after the first RIC regimen. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the repeated RIC regimens are performed every three days, every two days, or daily. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein repeated RIC regimens are performed within a month after the myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein repeated RIC regimens are performed within a month after the myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the repeated RIC regimens comprise more than one RIC regimen per day on one or more days. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has not undergone balloon angioplasty or a stent placement. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first RIC regimen is performed during reperfusion following ischemia associated with myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one RIC regimen of the repeated RIC regimens comprises at least four cycles, each cycle comprising supra-systolic pressure and reperfusion. 
     
     
         22 - 28 . (canceled)