THE USE OF BNP-TYPE PEPTIDES FOR THE STRATIFICATION OF THERAPY WITH ERYTHROPOIETIC STIMULATING AGENTS

摘要

The present invention relates to the diagnosis of the risk of experiencin g a cardiovascular complication in the context of treatment with erythropoie sis stimulating agents (ESAs) such as erythropoetin and derivatives thereof, particularly in the context of anemia. More particularly, the invention pro vides a method for diagnosing the risk of a patient of experiencing a cardio vascular complication as a consequence of future medication with an erythrop oiesis stimulating agent (ESA), comprising the steps of (a) measuring the le vel of a BNP -type peptide in a sample of the patient, (b) diagnosing said r isk by comparing the measured level of the BNP -type peptide to at least one reference level. The BNP -type peptide may for example be brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or the N-terminal fragment of BNP, NT-proBNP. The cardiovascu lar complication may include complications such as stroke, transient cerebra l ischemic attack, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, congestiv e heart failure etc.. Notably, the present invention also relates to dosages of ESA medication which do not cause hyperviscosity.