Method for slowing heart valve degeneration

• US 6,534,538 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Original Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Inventors: Rajamannan, Nalini M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HENLEY III, RAYMOND J
• Application Number:
  US10/032,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20020159983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 514/423, 514/451, 514/568
• US Class Current: 514/423
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/22 of acyclic acids, e.g. pravastatin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/366 having six-membered rings, e.g. delta-lactones
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/40 having five-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. sulpiride, succinimide, tolmetin, buflomedil
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/404 Indoles, e.g. pindolol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/5377 not condensed and containing further heterocyclic rings, e.g. timolol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/7052 having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. nucleosides, nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/44 Oxidoreductases (1)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 48/005 characterised by an aspect of the 'active' part of the composition delivered, i.e. the nucleic acid delivered
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 48/0075 characterised by an aspect of the delivery route, e.g. oral, subcutaneous
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3625 Vascular tissue, e.g. heart valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3645 Connective tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3683 subjected to a specific treatment prior to implantation, e.g. decellularising, demineralising, grinding, cellular disruption/non-collagenous protein removal, anti-calcification, crosslinking, supercritical fluid extraction, enzyme treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3695 characterised by the function or physical properties of the final product, where no specific conditions are defined to achieve this A61L27/3687, A61L27/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/38 containing added animal cells organs or tissue containing native cells A61L27/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/507 for artificial blood vessels apparatus for applying cells on a blood vessel prosthesis A61F2/062
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/86 Viral vectors
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/03 Compounds acting on the NO pathway, e.g. nitrososarginine
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/70 Enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2510/00 Genetically modified cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2710/10343 : viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0602 : Vertebrate cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 114/13039 : Nitric-oxide synthase (NADPH dependent) (1.14.13.39)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5008 : for testing or evaluating the effect of chemical or biological compounds, e.g. drugs, cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5011 : for testing antineoplastic activity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5061 : Muscle cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5064 : Endothelial cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5088 : of vertebrates

Abstract

The present invention involves a method for slowing heart valve degeneration in which an inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase is administered.

Claims

1. A method for slowing heart valve degeneration, said method comprising:

a) identifying a mammal at risk of developing heart valve degeneration, and

b) administering an inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl coA reductase activity to said mammal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal contains a heart valve replacement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal has congenital valvular disease.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal has bicuspid valvular disease.