Differentiation of causes of right heart failure

A method of determining whether a subject suffering from right heart failure is susceptible to a therapy for pulmonary hypertension comprising the steps of

• determining an amount of a natriuretic peptide, an amount of a cardiac troponin, an amount of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and an amount of endoglin in a sample from a subject suffering from right heart failure, and
• comparing the amounts of the natriuretic peptide, the cardiac troponin, the GDF-15, and the endoglin determined with reference amounts of the natriuretic peptide, the cardiac troponin, the GDF-15, and the endoglin, respectively, whereby pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension are differentiated as the cause of the right heart failure, and
• identifying the subject as susceptible to a therapy for pulmonary hypertension if pulmonary hypertension is determined as a cause of the right heart failure.

A method of determining whether a subject suffering from right heart failure is susceptible to a therapy for pulmonary embolism comprising the steps of

• determining an amount of a natriuretic peptide, an amount of a cardiac troponin, an amount of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and an amount of endoglin in a sample from a subject suffering from right heart failure, and
• comparing the amounts of the natriuretic peptide, the cardiac troponin, the GDF-15, and the endoglin determined with reference amounts of the natriuretic peptide, the cardiac troponin, the GDF-15, and the endoglin, respectively, whereby pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension are differentiated as the cause of the right heart failure, and
• identifying the subject as susceptible to a therapy for pulmonary embolism if pulmonary embolism is determined as a cause of the right heart failure.

A device for differentiating between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension as the cause of right heart failure in a subject comprising:

• means for determining the amounts of a natriuretic peptide, a cardiac troponin, GDF-15 and endoglin in a sample of a subject suffering from right heart failure, and
• means for comparing the amounts determined with reference amounts, whereby pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension are differentiated as the cause of the right heart failure.

A kit for differentiating between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension as a cause of right heart failure in a subject, the kit comprising:

• instructions for differentiating between pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension as a cause of right heart failure in the subject,
• means for determining the amounts of a natriuretic peptide, a cardiac troponin, GDF-15, and endoglin in a sample from the subject, and
• means for comparing the amounts of the natriuretic peptide, the cardiac troponin, the GDF-15, and the endoglin determined with reference amounts of the natriuretic peptide, the cardiac troponin, the GDF-15, and the endoglin, respectively, whereby pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension are differentiated as the cause of the right heart failure.