The present invention relates to the use of a plasmid encoding a
fibroblast growth factor as therapeutic agent for the prevention and
treatment of hypercholesterolemia or diabetes associated myocardial or
skeletal angiogenic defects. The present invention also relates to a
method for enhancing formation of both collateral blood vessels and
arterioles in myocardial or skeletal ischemic tissues in a mammalian
subject suffering from hypercholesterolemia or diabetes. The present
invention further relates to a method of promoting collateral blood
vessels in ischemic myocardial or skeletal tissues without inducing
VEGF-A factor expression and causing edema in the treated muscles.
