ENDOTHELIN ANTAGONISTS AND ENDOTHELIN SYNTHASE INHIBITORS FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF UTERINE CONTRACTILITY DISORDERS, PREECLAMPSIA, ATHEROSCLEROTIC VASCULAR DISEASE, HYPERTENSION AND FOR HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

摘要

A pharmaceutical composition for and methods of treatment of menstrual disorders, e.g., dysmenorrhea, in a non-pregnant female, preterm labor, preeclampsia and/or fetal growth retardation in a pregnant female mammal, treatment of atherosclerotic vascular disease and hypertension in males as well as females, and for hormone replacement therapy in peri- and post-menopausal females, comprising administering effective amounts of an endothelin antagonist and/or an endothelin synthase inhibitor or both, in combination with a progestin, and/or an estrogen, and/or a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and/or a nitric oxide donor and/or nitric oxide substrate, to prevent and/or ameliorate said conditions, are disclosed. In the method aspects, the endothelin antagonist and/or endothelin synthase inhibitor can be administered alone for treatment of menstrual disorders, e.g., dysmenorrhea, in a non-pregnant female, preterm labor, preeclampsia and/or fetal growth retardation in a pregnant female mammal. Further, methods for screening compounds for such treatments are disclosed.