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.

1 . A method of reducing a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle number in a subject in need thereof, comprising measuring a baseline LDL particle number associated with the subject; and thereafter administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising about 1 g to about 4 g of ethyl eicosapentaenoate per day. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a baseline lipid profile in the subject prior to administering the pharmaceutical composition to the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after administration of the pharmaceutical composition, the subject experiences a reduction in LDL particle number of at least about 5% compared to baseline. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered 2 g to about 4 g of ethyl eicosapentaenoate per day. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the subject 1 to 4 times per day. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ethyl eicosapentaenoate represents at least about 90%, by weight, of all fatty acids in the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein ethyl eicosapentaenoate represents at least about 95%, by weight, of all fatty acids in the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein ethyl eicosapentaenoate represents at least about 96%, by weight, of all fatty acids in the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein docosahexaenoic acid and its derivatives represent no more than about 10%, by weight, of all fatty acids in the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein docosahexaenoic acid and its derivatives represent no more than about 5%, by weight, of all fatty acids in the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein docosahexaenoic acid and its derivatives represent no more than about 3%, by weight, of all fatty acids in the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is present in one or more capsules. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is packaged in blister packages of about 1 to less than about 20 capsules per sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is not on concomitant lipid-altering therapy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the concomitant lipid-altering therapy comprises statin therapy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is diabetic.