Patent ID: 7608418

Claim:
A method for distinguishing an acute cardiac event from a chronic cardiac disease in a patient presenting with symptoms of acute cardiac decompensation, the method comprising the steps of measuring in a sample from the patient, within 24 hours after occurrence of the symptoms, a level of NT-proANP or an isoform thereof having at least 80% sequence similarity, measuring in a sample from the patient, within 24 hours after occurrence of the symptoms, a level of NT-proBNP or an isoform thereof having at least 80% sequence similarity, and comparing the measured level of NT-proANP with the measured level of NT-proBNP as a means of distinguishing an acute cardiac event from a chronic cardiac disease, wherein a level of NT-proANP of more than 3000 pg/ml and a level of NT-proBNP of less than 1000 pg/ml indicates the presence of an acute cardiac event, and wherein a level of NT-proANP of more than 3000 pg/ml and a level of NT-proBNP of more than 3000 pg/ml and indicates the presence of a chronic cardiac disease.