Natriuretic peptides for diagnosing cardiac complications due to coronary catheterization

摘要

The present invention discloses a method for diagnosing a cardiac complication in a patient due to coronary catheterization, comprising the steps of (a) obtaining at least one baseline sample from the patient during or after coronary catheterization, and then (b) obtaining at least one test sample from the patient after coronary catheterization, (c) determining a change of the level of an ANP-Type peptide, or a variant thereof, between the baseline sample and the test sample, wherein a significant decrease in the level of the ANP-type peptide according to step c) indicates a cardiac complication. In a preferred embodiment also a BNP-type peptide is measured, wherein a significant increase of the level of the BNP-type peptide indicates a cardiac complication. ANP-type peptide and BNP-type peptide belong to the group of natriuretic peptides. Preferred peptides include ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) and BNP (brain natriuretic peptide), and the respective N-terminal fragments thereof, NT-proANP and NT-proBNP. The invention allows early diagnosis of cardiac complications due to or caused by coronary catheterization (introduction of a catheter), e.g. angiography, angioplasty, balloon dilatation, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or stent implantation. Examples of complications which are detectable include myocardial ischemia and myocardial necrosis, even if they are asymptomatic or not clinically apparent. The invention also describes the additional measurement of markers of necrosis (e.g. troponins) and markers of inflammation (e.g. interleukins).