Use of sfrp-3 in the assessment of heart failure

A method of diagnosing heart failure in an individual at risk for heart failure, the method comprising the steps of:

• contacting, in vitro, a portion of a sample obtained from the individual with an antibody having specific binding affinity for secreted frizzled related protein 3 (SFRP-3), thereby forming a complex of the antibody and the SFRP-3, the antibody having a detectable label, the sample being one of serum, plasma or whole blood;
• separating the complex formed in said step of contacting from antibody not comprising the complex of the antibody and the SFRP-3;
• quantifying a signal from the detectable label of the antibody comprising the complex of the antibody and the SFRP-3 formed in said step of contacting, the signal being proportional to an amount of SFRP-3 in the sample from the individual, whereby a concentration of SFRP-3 in the sample is calculated;
• comparing the concentration of SFRP-3 calculated in said step of quantifying to a SFRP-3 reference value;
• and
• diagnosing heart failure in the individual if the concentration of SFRP-3 calculated in said step of quantifying is greater than the SFRP-3 reference value.

A method for diagnosing heart failure in an individual at risk for heart failure, the method comprising the steps of:

• contacting a portion of a serum, blood or plasma sample obtained from the individual with a capture antibody having specific binding affinity for secreted frizzled related protein 3 (SFRP-3), thereby forming a complex of the capture antibody and SFRP-3, the capture antibody being one of coupled to a solid support or comprising a component configured for coupling the capture antibody to a solid support;
• contacting the portion of the sample with a detection antibody having specific binding affinity for SFRP-3, thereby forming a complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3, and the detection antibody, the detection antibody having a detectable label;
• contacting the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody with a solid support, whereby the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody couples to the solid support;
• separating the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody coupled to the solid support from detection antibody, capture antibody and SFRP-3 not coupled to the solid support;
• exposing the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody to a substrate, thereby producing a signal from the detectable label of the detection antibody comprising the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody which couples to the solid support in said step of contacting;
• quantifying the signal produced in said step of exposing the complex of the capture antibody, SFRP-3 and the detection antibody, the signal being proportional to an amount of SFRP-3 in the sample from the individual, whereby a concentration of SFRP-3 in the sample is calculated;
• comparing the concentration of SFRP-3 calculated in said step of quantifying to a SFRP-3 reference value;
• and
• providing a diagnosis of heart failure in the individual if the concentration of SFRP-3 in the sample calculated in said step of quantifying is greater than the SFRP-3 reference concentration.