Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for differentially diagnosing the cause of acute shortness of breath. Specifically, contemplated is a method of differentiating in a subject suffering from shortness of breath (dyspnea) between a pulmonary disease and a cardiovascular complication as the cause of the dyspnea comprising the steps of determining the amount of SP-B and SP-D in a sample of a subject and comparing the amounts of SP-B and SP-D with reference amounts, whereby it is differentiated between a pulmonary disease and a cardiovascular complication as the cause of the dyspnea. Furthermore, the present invention encompasses a device and a kit adopted for carrying out the aforementioned method.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods and devices for medical diagnosis. Specifically, it relates to a method of diagnosing a cardiac disorder, the method including (a) determining the amount of a natriuretic peptide in a sample of the subject, (b) determining the amount of GDF-15 in a sample of the subject, (c) calculating the ratio (natriuretic peptide/GDF-15), and (d) diagnosing if the subject is suffering from a cardiac disorder, based of the ratio calculated in step (c). The method allows determining whether an elevated amount of GDF-15 in a sample of a subject is related to cardiac disorders, in particular myocardial dysfunction and/or heart failure, or if the elevation is related to a different pathological state Moreover, the present invention relates to a diagnostic device and a kit for carrying out the aforementioned method.