Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of laboratory diagnostics. The present disclosure provides means and methods for differentiating between an acute circulatory event and an ischemic event, as the cause underlying an acute medical event of a patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, compositions, kits and devices for diagnosing, distinguishing and/or facilitating a therapeutic decision in a subject having left ventricular hypertrophy. In some aspects, the methods, compositions, kits and devices disclosed herein allow for diagnosing, distinguishing and/or facilitating a therapeutic decision in a subject having physiological left ventricular hypertrophy, and/or for a subject suffering from pathological left ventricular hypertrophy.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to assessing heart failure in vitro by measuring the concentration of the marker mimecan in a sample, and optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration of mimecan and the one or more other marker(s) to reference concentrations of this (or these) marker(s) as established in a reference population. The one or more markers may be selected from the group comprising a natriuretic peptide marker, a cardiac troponin marker, and a marker of inflammation. Also disclosed are the use of mimecan as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising mimecan, and a kit for measuring mimecan.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for diagnosing kidney damage in a subject suffering from heart failure including the steps of a) determining the amounts of liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and optionally a natriuretic peptide in a sample of a subject, b) forming the L-FABP/KIM-1 ratio, c) comparing the amounts determined in step a) with reference amounts, and diagnosing the kidney damage. Also disclosed are a device and a kit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for differentiating in a subject suffering from kidney damage between kidney damage caused by (i) heart failure and/or (ii) diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2 including the steps of: a) determining the amount of liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) and the amount of kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) in a urine-sample of a subject and forming the L-FABP/KIM-1 ratio; b) determining the amount of adiponectin in a urine-sample of said subject; and c) comparing the ratio determined in a) and the amount determined in b) with reference amounts, and establishing the predominant cause of the kidney damage. Also disclosed are a device and a kit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing myocardial infarction in a subject who suffers from acute coronary syndrome and has a cardiac troponin level which is detectable but lower than the level that is considered as being indicative for a myocardial infarction. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for identifying a subject being susceptible to cardiac intervention, wherein the subject suffers from acute coronary syndrome and has a cardiac troponin level which is detectable but lower than a level that is considered as being indicative for a myocardial infarction. The methods of the present invention are based on the determination of H-FABP and, optionally, myoglobin in a sample of the subject and comparing the amount of H-FABP and, optionally, myoglobin to reference amounts.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method for differentiating between liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis in a subject based on the determination of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and/or endoglin in a sample of a subject and comparing the thus determined amount with a reference amount (reference amounts). Further envisaged by the present invention are kit and a device adapted to carry out the method of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for diagnosing whether a subject suffers from a mild or severe form of liver cirrhosis based on determining the amount of GDF-15 (growth differentiation factor 15), PlGF (placental growth factor), and/or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in a sample from the subject and comparing the thus determined amount(s) with a reference amount (reference amounts). The method may further include determining the amount of adiponectin in a sample from the subject, and comparing the amount to a reference amount for adiponectin. Also described is a method to identifying a subject being susceptible to liver transplantation including determining the amount of GDF-15, PlGF, and/or HGF in a sample from the subject and comparing the thus determined amount(s) with a reference amount (reference amounts).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the use of cardiac hormones, particularly natriuretic peptides, for assessment of risk of suffering from a cardiovascular complication, particularly heart disease or acute coronary syndrome, as a consequence of intravasal volume overload. In particular, the disclosure relates to a method for diagnosing the risk of a patient whose intravasal volume is increased or will be increased of suffering from a cardiovascular complication as a consequence of the increase of intravasal volume, comprising the steps of (a) taking a body fluid or tissue sample, and (b) measuring, preferably in vitro, the level of a cardiac hormone such as NT-proBNP.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining which medication is to be applied in a remodeling process of a subject after a myocardial infarction, the method comprising determining an amount of a natriuretic peptide, a cardiac troponin, and an inflammatory marker in a sample from the subject and initiating a remodeling in the subject, wherein the medication to be applied in the remodeling is selected according to the level of the peptides determined. Also disclosed is a method of monitoring the remodeling, wherein further steps include again determining an amount of the natriuretic peptide, the cardiac troponin, and the inflammatory marker in a sample from the subject, calculating the difference between the values from the first and second measurements, and assessing remodeling success from the data obtained.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for diagnosing a cardiac complication in a patient due to coronary catheterization, comprising the steps of (a) obtaining at least one baseline sample from the patient during or after coronary catheterization, and then (b) obtaining at least one test sample from the patient after coronary catheterization, (c) determining a change of the level of an ANP-type peptide between the baseline sample and the test sample, wherein a significant decrease in the level of the ANP-type peptide according to step c) indicates a cardiac complication.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting or assessing the risk of a type 1 diabetes patient to suffer from a cardiovascular event and/or terminal renal failure and/or death. The method is based on the determination of adiponectin and optionally a natriuretic peptide in a sample of a subject suffering from type 1 diabetes. Moreover, the present invention pertains to a method for predicting the risk of a cardiovascular event, mortality or terminal renal failure for a subject suffering from type 1 diabetes based on the determination of adiponectin and optionally a natriuretic peptide in a sample of the subject. Also encompassed by the present invention are devices and kits for carrying out the aforementioned methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing if a subject which has suffered from an acute myocardial infarction is also suffering from a pre-existing myocardial dysfunction, the method comprising a) determining the amount of a natriuretic peptide in a sample of the subject; b) determining the amount of a cardiac troponin in a sample of the subject; c) calculating the ratio (natriuretic peptide/cardiac troponin); and d) diagnosing if the elevated natriuretic peptide level is related to a preexisting myocardial dysfunction or if the elevated level is caused by the acute myocardial infarction, based on the ratio calculated in step c). The method allows determining whether the individual has suffered from a myocardial dysfunction, in particular heart failure, before the myocardial infarction has occurred.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for diagnosing myocardial infarction in a subject who suffers from acute coronary syndrome and has a cardiac troponin level, which is detectable, but lower than the level that is considered as being indicative for a myocardial infarction. Also disclosed is a method for identifying a subject being susceptible to cardiac intervention, wherein the subject suffers from acute coronary syndrome and has a cardiac troponin level which is detectable, but lower than a level that is considered as being indicative for a myocardial infarction. These methods are based on the determination of myoglobin and, optionally, Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in a sample of the subject and comparing the amount of myoglobin and, optionally, H-FABP to reference amounts. Also disclosed are kits or devices to carry out the methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assessing heart failure in vitro and involves the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker biglycan, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for biglycan and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of biglycan as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising biglycan and a kit for measuring biglycan.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method for predicting the risk of mortality and/or a cardiovascular event in a subject who suffers from the metabolic syndrome based on the determination of a natriuretic peptide and adiponectin in a sample of a subject. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for identifying a subject being susceptible to a therapy that intends to increase the level of adiponectin in a subject based on the determination of the aforementioned markers. Further disclosed are kits and devices adapted to carry out the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and means for diagnosing or risk stratification of co-morbidities, particularly cardiovascular complications in diabetes patients. The invention particularly relates to a method for diagnosing whether a diabetes patient is suffering from a cardiovascular complication or is at risk of suffering from a cardiovascular complication, said method comprising the steps of (a) measuring, preferably in vitro, the level(s) of at least one cardiac hormone or a variant thereof in a sample from the patient, and (b) diagnosing the cardiovascular complication or the risk of suffering from cardiovascular complication by comparing the measured level(s) to known level(s) associated with the cardiovascular complication or risk. The present invention also relates to combining the measurement of markers comprising cardiac hormones, natriuretic peptides, inflammation-associated markers, angiogenesis-markers, and markers for platelet activation.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, device, and test kit for diagnosing heart failure in a patient exhibiting atrial fibrillation. The method includes determining an amount of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF -15) in a sample from the patient and comparing the amount of GDF-15 determined with a reference amount of GDF-15, wherein when the amount of GDF-15 determined is greater than the reference amount of GDF-15, a diagnosis of heart failure is indicated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring subjects being on anti-angiogenesis therapy based on determining the amount of a cardiac troponin in a first and second sample of a subject and comparing the amount in the first sample with the second sample. Thereby, it can be assessed whether a subject is susceptible to a continuation of the therapy or not. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for predicting the risk of a cardiovascular event as a consequence of anti-angiogenesis therapy. Also encompassed by the present invention are kits and devices adapted to carry out the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying a subject being susceptible to anti-angiogenesis therapy based in determining the amount of a cardiac troponin in a sample of the subject and comparing the amount to a suitable reference amount. Also encompassed by the present invention are kits and devices adapted to carry out the method of the present invention.