METHODS FOR THE PREVENTION OR TREATMENT OF VESSEL OCCLUSION INJURY

1 . A method for treating a vessel occlusion injury in a mammalian subject, the method comprising: (a) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the peptide D-Arg-2′6′-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH 2 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) performing a revascularization procedure on the subject.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered the peptide prior to the revascularization procedure.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered the peptide after the revascularization procedure.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered the peptide during and after the revascularization procedure.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered the peptide continuously before, during, and after the revascularization procedure.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the subject is administered the peptide for at least 3 hours after the revascularization procedure.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the subject is administered the peptide starting at about 1 hour before the revascularization procedure.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the subject is administered the peptide starting at about 30 minutes before the revascularization procedure.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from a myocardial infarction.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from a ST elevation myocardial infarction or a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is in need of angioplasty.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the revascularization procedure is selected from the group consisting of: balloon angioplasty; insertion of a stent; percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; or directional coronary atherectomy.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the revascularization procedure is removal of the occlusion.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the revascularization procedure is administration of one or more thrombolytic agents.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more thrombolytic agents are selected from the group consisting of: tissue plasminogen activator; urokinase; prourokinase; streptokinase; acylated form of plasminogen; acylated form of plasmin; and acylated streptokinase-plasminogen complex.

16 . The method of claim 1 , where in the vessel occlusion is a cardiac vessel occlusion, an intracranial vessel occlusion or a renal vessel occlusion.

17 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel occlusion is selected from the group consisting of: deep venous thrombosis; peripheral thrombosis; embolic thrombosis; hepatic vein thrombosis; sinus thrombosis; venous thrombosis; an occluded arterio-venal shunt; and an occluded catheter device.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the levels of one or more of CK-MB, troponin, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), glucose, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are reduced in a subject administered the peptide relative to a comparable subject undergoing a revascularization procedure, but not administered the peptide.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the incidence of re-infarction, congestive heart failure, repeat revascularization procedure, renal failure or death in the hospital following the revascularization procedure are reduced in a subject administered the peptide relative to a comparable subject undergoing a revascularization procedure, but not administered the peptide.

22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the incidence of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events, death, cardiac death, or the development of congestive heart failure within 6 months following the revascularization procedure are reduced in a subject administered the peptide relative to a comparable subject undergoing a revascularization procedure, but not administered the peptide.