Predicting mortality and detecting severe disease

A method of evaluating the efficacy of a treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), pulmonary embolism, emphysema, lymphoma, or pericarditis in a subject having COPD, pulmonary embolism, emphysema, lymphoma, or pericarditis, the method comprising:

• selecting a subject having COPD, pulmonary embolism, emphysema, lymphoma, or pericarditis;
• determining a level of soluble ST2 in a biological sample from the selected subject having COPD, pulmonary embolism, emphysema, lymphoma, or pericarditis at a first time point, wherein determining a level of soluble ST2 comprises contacting the biological sample with an antibody that specifically binds to soluble ST2;
• identifying a subject that has an elevated level of soluble ST2 at the first time point compared to a reference level of soluble ST2;
• administering a treatment to the identified subject;
• determining a level of soluble ST2 in a biological sample from the identified subject at second time point following the administration of the treatment;
• comparing the level of soluble ST2 in the biological sample at the second time point to the level of soluble ST2 in the biological sample at the first time point;
• and
• identifying the administered treatment as being effective when there is a decrease in the level of soluble ST2 at the second time point compared to the level of soluble ST2 at the first time point.