Abstract: Described are methods for diagnosing a cardiac disease, particularly an acute cardiac event, in a patient presenting with symptoms of acute cardiac decompensation, comprising the steps of (a) measuring, typically in vitro, the level of NT-proBNP (N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide) or a variant thereof in a sample from the patient, (b) measuring, typically in vitro, the level of NIT-proANP (N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide) or a variant thereof in a sample from the patient, (c) combining the information of the measured levels of NT-proANP and NT-proBNP, wherein an increased level of NT-proANP in presence of a non-increased or weakly increased level of NT-proBNP indicates the presence of an acute cardiac event, or wherein an increased level of NT-proANP in presence of a highly increased level of NT-proBNP indicates the presence of a chronic cardiac disease. The methods also allow distinguishing an acute cardiac event from decompensation of a chronic cardiac disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for differentiating in a subject suffering from chronic shortness of breath (dyspnea) between (i) a pulmonary disease, (ii) a cardiovascular complication, (iii) a cardiovascular complication accompanied by a pulmonary disease and (iv) dyspnea without cardiovascular or pulmonary causes. The method comprises the steps of determining an amount of a pulmonary surfactant protein in a sample of a subject, determining an amount of a natriuretic peptide in a sample of said subject, and differentiating between (i) a pulmonary disease, (ii) a cardiovascular complication, (iii) a cardiovascular complication accompanied by a pulmonary disease and (iv) chronic dyspnea without cardiovascular or pulmonary causes by comparing the amount determined in a) and the amount determined in b) with a reference amount for each. The present invention further provides a device and a kit for carrying out the inventive methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing an acute cardiovascular event comprising the steps of determining the amount of a cardiac troponin in a sample of a subject, determining the amount of a natriuretic peptide in a sample of said subject and diagnosing an acute cardiovascular event by comparing the amounts determined in the previous steps with reference amounts. Moreover, the present invention encompasses a method for differentiating between an acute cardiovascular event and chronic heart failure comprising the steps of determining the amount of a cardiac troponin in a sample of a subject, determining the amount of a natriuretic peptide in a sample of said subject and differentiating between an acute cardiovascular event and chronic heart failure by comparing the amounts determined in the previous steps with reference amounts. Also comprised by the present invention are devices and kits for carrying out such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing if a pregnant woman suffers from a cardiac dysfunction, comprising the steps of a) measuring the level of a natriuretic peptide in a sample b) measuring the level of placental growth factor and/or sFlt-1 or a variant thereof in a sample, wherein an increased level of a natriuretic peptide and a decreased level of placental growth factor and/or an increased level of sFlt-1 or a variant thereof indicates the presence of a placenta-associated cardiac dysfunction, and wherein an increased level of a natriuretic peptide and a not decreased level of placental growth factor and/or a not increased level of sFlt-1 or a variant thereof indicates the presence of a cardiac dysfunction related to heart disease. The present invention also relates to an array, to an immunological rapid test, to the use of corresponding kits, and to methods for a decision support for the possible treatment of a pregnant woman suffering from a cardiac dysfunction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of differentiating between a singular and a multiple lung embolism in a subject suspected to suffer from acute lung embolism comprising determining the amount of NT-proBNP in a sample of a subject suspected to suffer from acute lung embolism and comparing the amount to a reference amount. Further, the present invention also relates to a method of differentiating between acute and chronic lung embolism in a subject comprising determining the amount of NT-proANP at a first and a second time point and comparing the determined amounts with each other. The present invention also encompasses devices and kits for carrying out the aforementioned methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a risk whether an individual will suffer from a cardiovascular adverse event as a consequence of cardiac stress testing, comprising the steps of (a) measuring, preferably in vitro, the level of placenta growth factor, wherein (b) if the level of the placenta growth factor is at least increased, then the individual is at least at risk of suffering from an adverse event as a consequence of cardiac stress testing. In a further embodiment, additionally another marker is measured, particularly a natriuretic peptide, most particularly NT-proBNP. The present invention allows to stratify patients according to the environment and conditions under which cardiac stress testing should be carried out.

Abstract: Described are methods for diagnosing a cardiac disease, particularly an acute cardiac event, in a patient presenting with symptoms of acute cardiac decompensation, comprising the steps of (a) measuring, typically in vitro, the level of NT-proBNP (N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide) or a variant thereof in a sample from the patient, (b) measuring, typically in vitro, the level of NIT-proANP (N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide) or a variant thereof in a sample from the patient, (c) combining the information of the measured levels of NT-proANP and NT-proBNP, wherein an increased level of NT-proANP in presence of a non-increased or weakly increased level of NT-proBNP indicates the presence of an acute cardiac event, or wherein an increased level of NT-proANP in presence of a highly increased level of NT-proBNP indicates the presence of a chronic cardiac disease. The methods also allow distinguishing an acute cardiac event from decompensation of a chronic cardiac disease.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for diagnosing a cardiac dysfunction in a subject comprising the steps of measuring, preferably in vitro, the level of a BNP-type peptide in a sample from the subject, measuring, preferably in vitro, the level of an ANP-type peptide in a sample from the subject, calculating the ratio of the measured level of the ANP-type peptide to the measured level of the BNP-type peptide comparing the calculated ratio to at least one known ratio indicative of the presence or absence of a cardiac dysfunction. Preferred markers according to the present invention are ANP, NT-proANP, BNP, NT-proBNP, which belong to the class of natriuretic peptides. Particularly, the present invention relates to diagnosing a diastolic dysfunction and/or (distinguishing a diastolic from a systolic dysfunction. Furthermore, the present invention relates to diagnostic kits (comprising an ANP-type and a BNP type peptide) as well as methods of treatment and methods for deciding about treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for differentiating in a subject suffering from acute shortness of breath (dyspnea) between (i) a pulmonary disease, (ii) a cardiovascular complication, (iii) a cardiovascular complication accompanied by a pulmonary disease or (iv) acute dyspnea without cardiovascular or pulmonary causes comprising the steps of determining the amount of pulmonary surfactant protein B (SP-B) in a sample of a subject, determining the amount of a natriuretic peptide in a sample of said subject, and differentiating between (i) a pulmonary disease, (ii) a cardiovascular complication, (iii) a cardiovascular complication accompanied by a pulmonary disease or (iv) acute dyspnea without cardiovascular or pulmonary causes by comparing the determined amounts with reference amounts. Moreover, the present invention relates to a device and a kit for carrying out said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of cardiac hormones, particularly natriuretic peptides, for diagnosing the risk of suffering from a cardiovascular complication, particularly heart disease or acute coronary syndrome, as a consequence of cardiotoxic medication, in particular chemotherapeutics, including anthracyclines. In particular, the invention relates to a method for diagnosing the risk of a patient who is going to receive cardiotoxic medication of suffering from a cardiovascular complication as a consequence of the cardiotoxic medication, comprising the steps of (a) taking a body fluid or tissue sample, and (b) measuring, preferably in vitro, the level of a cardiac hormone. Preferred cardiac hormones in the context of the present invention are ANP, NT-proANP, BNP, and NT-proBNP.

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: 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: The present invention 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 invention 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. The most preferred cardiac hormone in the context of the present invention is NT-proBNP.