Diagnostic method for disorders using copeptin

Abstract

Disclosed herein is the use of copeptin as a diagnostic marker for the determination of the release of vasopressin, especially in connection with disorders associated with non-physiological alterations of vasopressin release from the neurohypophysis, especially for detection and early detection, diagnosing and monitoring of the course of cardiovascular diseases, renal and pulmonary diseases as well as shock, including septic shock, sepsis and diseases/disorders of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases.

1 . A diagnostic in vitro method for the diagnosis and monitoring of disorders associated with or caused by non-physiological alterations of vasopressin release from the neurohypophysis by determining in a sample of a body fluid of the patient the amount of copeptin and/or a pathophysiologically occurring precursor, splice variant, fragment or posttranslationally modified form of copeptin displaying copeptin immunoreactivity, and associating the determined amount of copeptin or copeptin immunoreactivity with the presence and/or course and/or severity and/or prognosis of such disorder. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disorder associated with or caused by non-physiological alterations of vasopressin release from the neurohypophysis is selected from the group consisting of chronic or congestive heart failure, cardiac arrest, cardiac shock, cardiac infarction, acute myocardial infarction, arterial hypertension, cardiac surgery; cirrhosis; pulmonary disorders; kidney (renal) diseases as polycystic kidney disease; Diabetes insipidus; forms of hyponatremia, forms of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion; hemorrhage, edema-forming states, inflammatory diseases, trauma, burns, infectious complications thereof and sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock; and diseases/disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copeptin immunoreactivity is an immunoreactivity which can be determined by using a sandwich immunoassay using a first specific binder recognizing an amino acid sequence present in SEQ ID NO:1, and a second specific binder recognizing an amino acid sequence present in SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said specific binders are polyclonal and/or monoclonal antibodies. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said immunoassay is a heterogenous immunoassay using a first immobilized specific binder and a second solubilized specific binder which carries a detectable label or which can be selectively labeled by reaction with a labeled marker molecule. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said immunoassay is a homogeneous immunoassay. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claims 1 , wherein the biological fluid is selected from serum, plasma, blood or (cerebrospinal fluid; CSF). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said disorder is selected from the group consisting of sepsis, cardiac infarction, chronic heart failure and increased arterial blood pressure. 
     
     
         9 - 12 . (canceled)