Methods for treatment of cardiovascular disease

Abstract

This invention pertains to methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular conditions. More specifically, the invention relates to isolated molecules that can be used to diagnose and/or treat cardiovascular conditions including cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, stroke, arteriosclerosis, and heart failure.

I claim: 
     
         1 .- 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of identifying a subject having increased cardiac mechanical strain over time, the method comprising:
 determining a level of soluble ST2 in a sample obtained from the subject at a first time point;   determining a level of soluble ST2 in a sample obtained from the subject at a second time point; and   identifying a subject having an elevated level of soluble ST2 at the second time point as compared to the level of soluble ST2 at the first time point as having an increase in cardiac mechanical strain over the period of time.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the sample obtained from the subject at the first time point and the sample obtained from the subject at the second time point comprise blood. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the sample obtained from the subject at the first time point and the sample obtained from the subject at the second time point comprise serum. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the sample obtained from the subject at the first time point and the sample obtained from the subject at the second time point comprise plasma. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the determining of the level of soluble ST2 in the sample obtained from the subject at the first time point and the determining of the level of soluble ST2 in the sample obtained from the subject at the second time point comprise the use of an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to soluble ST2. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         44 . A method of identifying a subject having increased cardiac mechanical strain over time and treating the identified subject, the method comprising:
 determining a level of soluble ST2 in a sample obtained from the subject at a first time point;   determining a level of soluble ST2 in a sample obtained from the subject at a second time point;   identifying a subject having an elevated level of soluble ST2 at the second time point as compared to the level of soluble ST2 at the first time point as having an increase in cardiac mechanical strain over the period of time; and   administering to the identified subject an agent for reducing the risk of a cardiovascular disorder.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the sample obtained from the subject at the first time point and the sample obtained from the subject at the second time point comprise blood. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the sample obtained from the subject at the first time point and the sample obtained from the subject at the second time point comprise serum. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the sample obtained from the subject at the first time point and the sample obtained from the subject at the second time point comprise plasma. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the determining of the level of soluble ST2 in the sample obtained from the subject at the first time point and the determining of the level of soluble ST2 in the sample obtained from the subject at the second time point comprise the use of an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to soluble ST2. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of: an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-thrombotic agent, an anti-platelet agent, a fibrinolytic agent, a lipid-reducing agent, a direct thrombin inhibitor, a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor, a calcium channel blocker, a β-adrenergic receptor blocker, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, and a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the agent is a β-adrenergic receptor blocker. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the renin-angiotensin system inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of: an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, an agent that activates the catabolism of angiotensin II, and an agent that prevents the synthesis of angiotensin I. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the renin-angiotensin system inhibitor is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the renin-angiotensin system inhibitor is an angiotensin II receptor blocker. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the renin-angiotensin system inhibitor is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist.