Marker for inflammatory conditions

Abstract

Use of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A as a marker for inflammatory conditions, and in particular, for acute coronary syndromes is described.

1 . A method for diagnosing an inflammatory condition, said method comprising: 
 a) measuring the level of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in a biological sample from a non-pregnant patient;    b) comparing said level with that of control subjects; and    c) diagnosing said inflammatory condition based on the level of PAPP-A relative to that of control subjects.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said patient is diagnosed as having said inflammatory condition if the level of PAPP-A is increased relative to that of control subjects.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inflammatory condition is acute coronary syndrome.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said acute coronary syndrome is unstable angina, sudden cardiac death, or acute myocardial infarction.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inflammatory condition is rheumatoid arthritis.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inflammatory condition is Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said level of PAPP-A is measured using an immunoassay.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said immunoassay is an ELISA.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein PAPP-A is captured with anti-PAPP-A polyclonal antibodies.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein PAPP-A is captured with an anti-PAPP-A monoclonal antibody.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is selected from the group consisting of whole blood, plasma, and serum.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises measuring the level of a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of high sensitivity C-reactive protein, creatine kinase MB, troponin I, troponin T, creatine kinase, creatinine, fibrinogen, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6, and wherein said diagnosing step is based on the level of said polypeptide and said level of PAPP-A relative to that of control subjects.  
   
   
       13 . An article of manufacture for diagnosing an inflammatory condition in a non-pregnant patient, said article of manufacture comprising an anti-PAPP-A antibody and packaging material, wherein said anti-PAPP-A antibody can be used for measuring PAPP-A levels in a biological sample from said patient, and wherein said packaging material comprises a label or package insert indicating that said anti-PAPP-A antibody can be used for diagnosing said inflammatory condition.  
   
   
       14 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13 , wherein said biological sample is selected from the group consisting of whole blood, plasma, and serum.  
   
   
       15 . An article of manufacture for diagnosing an inflammatory condition in a non-pregnant patient, said article of manufacture comprising reagents for measuring levels of a plurality of polypeptides in a biological sample from said patient, wherein said plurality of polypeptides comprises PAPP-A and one or more of the polypeptides selected from the group consisting of high sensitivity C-reactive protein, creatine kinase MB, troponin I, troponin T, creatine kinase, creatinine, fibrinogen, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6.  
   
   
       16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein said biological sample is selected from the group consisting of whole blood, plasma, and serum.  
   
   
       17 . A method for diagnosing an inflammatory condition, said method comprising: 
 a) administering to a patient an amount of an antibody having specific binding affinity for PAPP-A effective to detectably bind to PAPP-A, wherein said antibody is labeled;    b) detecting the level of said antibody bound to PAPP-A in said patient; and    c) diagnosing said inflammatory condition based on the level of said antibody bound to PAPP-A.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said detecting step comprises diagnostic imaging.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said diagnostic imaging comprises positron emission tomography, gamma-scintigraphy, single photon emission computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, intravascular ultrasound, or functional magnetic resonance imaging.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said label is a radioisotope.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said radioisotope is selected from the group consisting of  123 I,  18 F,  111 In,  67 Ga, and  99 mTc.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said antibody is administered intravenously.