The invention relates to the use of inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase and/orinhibitors of products of the reaction catalysed by said enzyme, for theprophylaxis and/or treatment of infectious diseases and/or diseases which areinfluenced by infections during the course thereof. The cited productsespecially include ceramide. Preferably neutralising antibodies and/or anti-depressants, especially tricyclic and/or tetracyclic anti-depressants, areused as inhibitors.
