Diagnostic methods for congestive heart failure

Abstract

The invention provides an assay for the quantification of circulating glycophorin in biological fluid samples. The circulating glycophorin measured by this assay is a truncated glycophorin diagnostic for congestive heart failure (CHF).

1 . A method useful in determining whether a subject is suffering from congestive heart failure comprising:
 analyzing a body fluid of the subject to detect a presence and concentration level of unbound and freely circulating glycophorin or glycophorin derived fragments in said body fluid;   wherein information obtained from said analyses is employed to determine whether the subject is suffering from congestive heart failure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body fluid is blood plasma. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the blood plasma is substantially free of red blood cells. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glycophorin comprises a circulating, truncated glycophorin. 
     
     
         5 . A diagnostic kit useful in diagnosing congestive heart failure comprising a solid support having immobilized thereon at least one antibody that is specific for a freely circulating glycophorin characterized as circulating in bodily fluid free from the cellular surface of a red blood cell. 
     
     
         6 . The diagnostic kit of  claim 5 , wherein the bodily fluid is blood plasma. 
     
     
         7 . The diagnostic kit of  claim 6 , wherein the blood plasma is substantially free of red blood cells. 
     
     
         8 . The diagnostic kit of  claim 5 , wherein the glycophorin comprises a circulating, truncated glycophorin.