Methods for treating myocardial infarction comprising administering an IL-6 inhibitor

#This application is the National Stage of International Application Serial No. PCT/JP2006/320905, filed on Oct. 20, 2006, which claims the benefit of Japanese Application Serial No. 2005-307349, filed on Oct. 21, 2005. The contents of both of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

#The present invention relates to agents for treating myocardial infarction which comprise an IL-6 inhibitor as an active ingredient and uses thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to agents for suppressing left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction, which comprise an IL-6 inhibitor as an active ingredient and uses thereof.

#Myocardial infarction is one of ischemic heart diseases. It is a disorder that causes myocardial necrosis where constriction of cardiac coronary artery occurs due to arteriosclerosis and such, and the bloodstream of the coronary artery becomes dramatically reduced or stopped. The expansion and/or deterioration of infarcted area cause complications such as heart failure and/or ischemia-induced severe arrhythmia, and increase threat to life.

#The present inventors discovered that improvement of the condition of infarcted area in myocardial infarction and suppression of left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction can be achieved by administering an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody. The present invention is based on these findings.

#The present invention relates to agents for treating myocardial infarction and agents for suppressing left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction, both of which comprise an IL-6 inhibitor as an active ingredient.

#Herein, an “IL-6 inhibitor” is a substance that blocks IL-6-mediated signal transduction and inhibits IL-6 biological activity. Preferably, the IL-6 inhibitor is a substance that has inhibitory function against the binding of IL-6, IL-6 receptor, or gp130.