Details for Patent: 5,952,305

Title:	Methods for reducing risk of repeat myocardial infarction and increasing survival in heart attack victims
Abstract:	The invention involves a method for treating a human survivor of a heart attack and provides further improvement in survival following the heart attack by the early initiation and long-term administration of a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, preferably an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. The inhibitor may be used on its own, or in conjunction with other therapeutic compounds such as data blockers and thrombolytic agents. The preferred inhibitor is captopril.
Inventor(s):	Pfeffer; Marc A. (Chestnut Hill, MA), Pfeffer; Janice M. (Chestnut Hill, MA), Braunwald; Eugene (Weston, MA)
Assignee:	Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. (Boston, MA)
Filing Date:	Jun 07, 1995
Application Number:	08/476,661
Claims:	1. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction who is free of hypertension and congestive heart failure and is otherwise free of indications for renin-angiotensin system inhibition treatment to prevent repeat myocardial infarction and to increase the likelihood of survival following the myocardial infarction, comprising: administering to the human survivor who is free of hypertension and congestive heart failure and is otherwise free of indications for renin-angiotensin inhibition treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, wherein the human survivor has a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than or equal to 40% after the myocardial infarction. 2. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the inhibitor is a renin inhibitor. 3. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is a peptide. 4. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is an antibody to renin. 5. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is an amino acid. 6. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is administered for an extended period of time. 7. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is administered to the human survivor within 16 days of the myocardial infarction. 8. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is administered to the human survivor only after three days have past since the myocardial infarction. 9. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is administered to the human survivor within 16 days of the myocardial infarction, that only after three days have past since the myocardial infarction, and wherein the renin inhibitor is administered for an extended period to the survivor. 10. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is administered at a lower dose at the start of treatment and at a higher dose after the start of treatment. 11. The method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is administered three times per day. 12. A method for treating a human survivor of a myocardial infarction as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the renin inhibitor is administered at the maximum dose tolerable.