Method for Determining Condition of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract

A method for determining a condition of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) (preferably also the amount of vWF) in a patient suffering from DIC, and a kit for determining a condition of DIC, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13, are disclosed. According to the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be carried out from among patients with DIC, which could not be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers.

1 . A method for determining a condition of disseminated intravascular coagulation, characterized by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease in a patient suffering from disseminated intravascular coagulation. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of a von Willebrand factor is further analyzed. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  or, wherein the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease is immunologically analyzed. 
     
     
         4 . A kit for determining a condition of disseminated intravascular coagulation, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease is immunologically analyzed.