Use of urokinase inhibitors for the treatment and/or prevention of pulmonary hypertension and/or cardiac remodelling

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of treatment and/or prevention of pulmonary hypertension and to methods of treatment and/or prevention of cardiac remodelling and more specifically to cardiac remodelling induced by systemic hypertension in a mammal, particularly a human being. In particular, the invention shows a novel, negative role for urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the pathogenesis of cardiac remodelling, leading to subsequent cardiac dysfunction, and in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension usually complicated by subsequent right ventricular hypertrophy. Consequently, the use of selective inhibitors of u-PA activity can be of benefit for treatment of patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension and/or cardiac remodelling.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.