Patent ID: 7700296

Claim:
A method for detecting one or more diseases or disorders of the human vascular system or one or more diseases or disorders of human cartilage, comprising (a) exposing a human serum or plasma sample to a monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing an epitope of human matrix Gla protein (MGP); (b) determining a level of MGP in the human serum or plasma sample; (c) comparing the level of MGP in the human serum or plasma sample to a serum or plasma level of MGP in a healthy human population reference sample; and (d) determining whether the level of MGP in the human serum or plasma sample is higher or lower than the serum or plasma level of MGP in the reference sample, wherein the one or more human vascular system diseases or disorders is selected from the group consisting of cardiovascular calcification, and angina pectoris; wherein the one or more diseases or disorders of human cartilage is selected from the group consisting of osteoarthritis, Bechterew's disease, and chondropathy.