Prognosis of adverse events in patients with suspected chronic heart failure

Abstract

The present invention is in the field of clinical diagnostics. Particularly the present invention relates to the prognosis of adverse events in patients with stable chronic heart failure or being suspected of having stable chronic heart failure by determination of the level of Procalcitonin (PCT).

1 . A method of predicting the risk of getting an adverse event for a patient with stable chronic heart failure or being suspected of having stable chronic heart failure the method comprising:
 determining the level of procalcitonin or fragments thereof of at least 12 amino acids in length in a sample of bodily fluid of said patient,   correlating said level of procalcitonin or fragments thereof with the risk of getting an adverse event for said patient.   
     
     
         2 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . Use of PCT for antibiotic guidance in patients with stable chronic heart failure or patients being suspected of having stable chronic heart failure having an increased risk of getting an adverse event the method comprising:
 determining the level of procalcitonin or fragments thereof of at least 12 amino acids in length in a sample of bodily fluid of said patient   correlating said level of procalcitonin or fragments thereof with the risk of getting an adverse event for said patient.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for determining an enhanced risk of a patient with stable chronic heart failure or suspected of having stable chronic heart failure suffering an adverse event, comprising:
 (a) detecting and quantitating the level of procalcitonin (PCT), or a fragment thereof consisting of amino acids 1 to 116 or 2 to 116 or 3 to 116 of SEQ ID NO:1, in a sample of bodily fluid of said patient, wherein the detection and quantitation comprises a PCT detection assay wherein the sample is contacted with an antibody that specifically binds to PCT to form a detectable PCT:antibody complex, and detecting and quantitating the complex; and   (b) comparing said level of PCT or fragments thereof to a statistically significant predetermined threshold level,   
       wherein, when said level of procalcitonin or fragments thereof exceeds said threshold level, said patient is determined to have an enhanced risk of suffering an adverse event.