Methods of treating vascular diseases characterized by nitric oxide insufficiency

Abstract

The invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing vascular diseases characterized by nitric oxide insufficiency by administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one nitrosated angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, nitrosated beta-adrenergic blocker, nitrosated cholesterol reducer, nitrosated calcium channel blocker, nitrosated endothelin antagonist, nitrosated angiotensin II receptor antagonist, nitrosated renin inhibitor, and optionally at least one compound used to treat cardiovascular diseases and/or at least one antioxidant, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and/or at least one compound that donates, transfers or releases nitric oxide, elevates endogenous levels of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, stimulates endogenous synthesis of nitric oxide or is a substrate for nitric oxide synthase. The antioxidant may preferably be a hydralazine compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compound that donates, transfers or releases nitric oxide, elevates endogenous levels of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, stimulates endogenous synthesis of nitric oxide or is a substrate for nitric oxide synthase may preferably be isosorbide dinitrate and/or isosorbide mononitrate. The vascular diseases characterized by nitric oxide insufficiency include a cardiovascular disease and a disease resulting from oxidative stress.