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: 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 diagnosing contrast medium-induced nephrotoxicty in a subject based on comparing the amount of urotensin II and/or adiponectin in a sample of the subject obtained after administration of the contrast medium to the amount of urotensin II and/or adiponectin in a sample of the subject prior to administration of the contrast medium. Further encompassed by the present invention are a kit and a device for carrying out the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of diagnostic means and methods. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of differentiating between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension as the cause of right heart failure in a subject comprising determining the amounts of a natriuretic peptide, a cardiac troponin, GDF-15 and endoglin in a sample of a subject suffering from right heart failure and comparing the amounts with reference amounts, whereby it is differentiated between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension as the cause of the right heart failure. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods of determining whether a subject suffering from right heart failure is susceptible to a therapy for pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary embolism as well as to a diagnostic device and a diagnostic kit adapted for carrying out the method of the present invention.

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: Described is a method for diagnosing whether a percutaneous cardiac intervention (PCI) in a subject suffering from a stable coronary heart disease was successful, the method comprising determining the amount of GDF-15 in a first sample of the subject which has been obtained after PCI and comparing the determined amount of GDF-15 with a reference amount of GDF-15 which is determined in a second sample of the subject suffering from a stable coronary heart disease obtained prior to PCI, whereby it is diagnosed whether PCI was successful. The invention also relates to the use of means for determining the amount of GDF-15 and, preferably, a natriuretic peptide and/or a cardiac troponin for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for diagnosing whether a PCI in a subject suffering from a stable coronary heart disease was successful.

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 methods and devices for medical diagnosis. Specifically, it relates to a method of diagnosing heart failure in a subject exhibiting atrial fibrillation, the method comprising determining the amount of GDF-15 in a sample of the subject and comparing the amount of GDF-15 with a suitable reference amount whereby heart failure is to be diagnosed. Moreover, the present invention relates to a diagnostic device and a kit for carrying out the aforementioned method.

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 provides methods for diagnosing an acute cardiovascular event and for differentiating between an acute cardiovascular event and chronic heart failure based on measuring a cardiac troponin and a natriuretic peptide in a sample from a patient and comparing the measured amounts with reference amounts, as well as devices and kits for carrying out such methods.

Abstract: Described are methods for diagnosing the angiogenic status of a subject suffering from coronary heart disease comprising determining the amounts of placental growth factor or a variant thereof, endoglin or a variant thereof and soluble FLT1 or a variant thereof in a sample of a subject suffering from coronary heart disease and comparing the amounts determined with reference amounts, whereby the angiogenic status is diagnosed.

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 diagnostic means and methods. Specifically, the present invention encompasses a method of diagnosing the cause of cardiac necrosis in a subject comprising determining the amount of a cardiac troponin and the amount of a BNP-type peptide in a sample from a subject suffering from cardiac necrosis and comparing the amount of the cardiac troponin and the amount of the BNP-type peptide to reference amounts, whereby the cause of the cardiac necrosis is to be diagnosed. The present invention further relates to a method of determining whether a subject suffering from cardiac necrosis is susceptible for a therapy against initial heart failure and to a method for determining whether a subject suffering from cardiac necrosis is susceptible for a therapy against coronary heart disease. Also encompassed are diagnostic uses, devices, and kits.

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 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: 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.