METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING OR MONITORING KIDNEY FUNCTION OR DIAGNOSING KIDNEY DYSFUNCTION

Abstract

A method for (a) diagnosing or monitoring kidney function in subject or (b) diagnosing kidney dysfunction in a subject or (c) predicting or monitoring the risk of an adverse events in a diseased subject or (d) predicting or monitoring the success of a therapy or intervention comprising determining the level of Pro-Enkephalin (PENK) or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids in a bodily fluid obtained from said subject; and correlating said level of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof with (a) kidney function in a subject or (b) kidney dysfunction in said subject or (c) enhanced risk of adverse events or (d) success of a therapy or intervention in a diseased subject.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A method for diagnosing or monitoring kidney function in a subject comprising: determining the level of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids in a bodily fluid obtained from said subject; and monitoring kidney function in a subject with a follow-up measurement of the level of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids in a bodily fluid obtained from said subject, wherein during said follow-up measurement, a relative change of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids that is lowered, correlates with the improvement of the subject's kidney function, or wherein during said follow-up measurement, a relative change of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids that is increased, correlates with the worsening of the subject's kidney function, and wherein said determination of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids is performed more than once in one subject, and wherein said Pro-Enkephalin or fragment thereof is SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 5, SEQ ID No. 8, SEQ ID No. 9, SEQ ID No. 10 or SEQ ID No. 11 and wherein an assay is used comprising two binders that bind to two different regions within the region of Pro-Enkephalin that is amino acid 133-140 (LKELLETG, SEQ ID NO. 13) and amino acid 152-159 (SDNEEEVS, SEQ ID No. 14) wherein each of said regions comprises at least 4 or 5 amino acids.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein each of said regions comprises at least 4 amino acids.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the binder is an antibody, an antibody fragment or a non-Ig-Scaffold binding to Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the binder binds to a region within the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 5, SEQ ID No. 8, SEQ ID No. 9, SEQ ID No. 10 or SEQ ID No. 11 and does not bind to enkephalin peptides [Met]enkephalin SEQ ID No: 3, or [Leu]enkephalin SEQ ID No: 4.

24. A method according to claim 20, wherein the level of Pro-Enkephalin is measured with an immunoassay and said binder is an antibody, or an antibody fragment binding to Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein said binder is an antibody.

26. A method according to claim 20, wherein an assay is used for determining the level of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids and wherein the assay sensitivity of said assay is able to quantify the Pro-Enkephalin or Pro-Enkephalin fragments of healthy subjects and is <15 pmol/L.

27. A method according to claim 20, wherein said bodily fluid is blood, serum, plasma, urine, cerebrospinal liquid (CSF), or saliva.

28. A method according to claim 20, wherein additionally at least one clinical parameter is determined wherein said clinical parameter is BUN, NGAL, Creatinine Clearance, Creatinine or Apache Score.

29. A method according to claim 20, wherein said monitoring is performed in order to evaluate the response of said subject to preventive and/or therapeutic measures taken.

30. A method according to claim 29, in order to stratify said subjects into risk groups.

31. A method for diagnosing or monitoring kidney function in a subject comprising: determining the level of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids in a bodily fluid obtained from said subject; and monitoring kidney function in a subject with a follow-up measurement of the level of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids in a bodily fluid obtained from said subject, wherein during said follow-up measurement, a relative change of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids that is lowered correlates with the improvement of the subject's kidney function, or wherein during said follow-up measurement, a relative change of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids that is increased correlates with the worsening of the subject's kidney function, and wherein said determination of Pro-Enkephalin or fragments thereof of at least 5 amino acids is performed more than once in one subject, and wherein said Pro-Enkephalin or fragment thereof is SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 5, SEQ ID No. 8, SEQ ID No. 9, SEQ ID No. 10 or SEQ ID No. 11 and wherein additionally at least one clinical parameter is determined that is age, BUN, NGAL, Creatinine Clearance, Creatinine or Apache Score and wherein an assay is used comprising two binders that bind to two different regions within the region of Pro-Enkephalin that is amino acid 133-140 (LKELLETG, SEQ ID NO. 13) and amino acid 152-159 (SDNEEEVS, SEQ ID No. 14) wherein each of said regions comprises at least 4 or 5 amino acids.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Development of Antibodies

Peptides

[0114] Peptides were synthesized (JPT Technologies, Berlin, Germany).

Peptides/Conjugates for Immunization:

[0115] Peptides for immunization were synthesized (JPT Technologies, Berlin, Germany) with an additional N-terminal Cystein residue for conjugation of the peptides to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The peptides were covalently linked to BSA by using Sulfo-SMCC (Perbio-science, Bonn, Germany). The coupling procedure was performed according to the manual of Perbio.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1 Peptide for immunization Pro-Enkephalin-sequence (C)DAEEDD 119-125 (C)EEDDSLANSSDLLK 121-134 (C)LKELLETG 133-140 (C)TGDNRERSHHQDGSDNE 139-155 (C)SDNEEEVS 152-159

[0116] The antibodies were generated according to the following method:

[0117] A BALB/c mouse was immunized with 100 μg peptide-BSA-conjugate at day 0 and 14 (emulsified in 100 μl complete Freund's adjuvant) and 50 μg at day 21 and 28 (in 100 μl incomplete Freund's adjuvant). Three days before the fusion experiment was performed, the animal received 50 μg of the conjugate dissolved in 100 μl saline, given as one intraperitoneal and one intravenous injection.

[0118] Spenocytes from the immunized mouse and cells of the myeloma cell line SP2/0 were fused with 1 ml 50% polyethylene glycol for 30 s at 37° C. After washing, the cells were seeded in 96-well cell culture plates. Hybrid clones were selected by growing in HAT medium [RPMI 1640 culture medium supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum and HAT-supplement]. After two weeks the HAT medium is replaced with HT Medium for three passages followed by returning to the normal cell culture medium.

[0119] The cell culture supernatants were primary screened for antigen specific IgG antibodies three weeks after fusion. The positive tested microcultures were transferred into 24-well plates for propagation. After retesting the selected cultures were cloned and recloned using the limiting-dilution technique and the isotypes were determined.

[0120] (Lane, R. D. “A short-duration polyethylene glycol fusiontechnique for increasing production of monoclonal antibody-secreting hybridomas”, J. Immunol. Meth. 81: 223-228; (1985), Ziegler, B. et al. “Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is not detectable on the surface of rat islet cells examined by cytofluorometry and complement-dependent antibody-mediated cytotoxicity of monoclonal GAD antibodies”, Horm. Metab. Res. 28: 11-15, (1996)).

Monoclonal Antibody Production

[0121] Antibodies were produced via standard antibody production methods (Marx et al., Monoclonal Antibody Production (1997), ATLA 25, 121) and purified via Protein A-chromatography. The antibody purities were >95% based on SDS gel electrophoresis analysis.

Labelling and Coating of Antibodies.

[0122] All antibodies were labelled with acridinium ester according the following procedure:

[0123] Labelled compound (tracer): 100 μg (100 μl) antibody (1 mg/ml in PBS, pH 7.4), was mixed with 10 μl Acridinium NHS-ester (1 mg/ml in acetonitrile, InVent GmbH, Germany) (EP 0353971) and incubated for 20 min at room temperature. Labelled antibody was purified by gel-filtration HPLC on Bio-Sil SEC 400-5 (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., USA) The purified labelled antibody was diluted in (300 mmol/1 potassiumphosphate, 100 mmol/1 NaCl, 10 mmol/1 Na-EDTA, 5 g/l bovine serum albumin, pH 7.0). The final concentration was approx. 800.000 relative light units (RLU) of labelled compound (approx. 20 ng labeled antibody) per 200 μl. Acridiniumester chemiluminescence was measured by using an AutoLumat LB 953 (Berthold Technologies GmbH & Co. KG).

Solid Phase Antibody (Coated Antibody):

[0124] Solid phase: Polystyrene tubes (Greiner Bio-One International AG, Austria) were coated (18 h at room temperature) with antibody (1.5 μg antibody/0.3 ml 100 mmol/1 NaCl, 50 mmol/1 Tris/HCl, pH 7.8). After blocking with 5% bovine serum albumine, the tubes were washed with PBS, pH 7.4 and vacuum dried.

Antibody Specificity

[0125]

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2 Pre-Pro- Peptide for Enkephalin- immunization sequence Antibody name (C)DAEEDD 119-125 NT-MRPENK (C)EEDDSLANSSDLLK 121-134 NM-MRPENK (C)LKELLETG 133-140 MR-MRPENK (C)TGDNRERSHHQDGSDNE 139-155 MC-MRPENK (C)SDNEEEVS 152-159 CT-MRPENK

[0126] Antibody cross-reactivities were determined as follows:

[0127] 1 ug peptide in 300 μl PBS, pH 7.4 was pipetted into Polystyrene tubes and incubated for 1 h at room temperature. After incubation the tubes were washed 5 times (each 1 ml) using 5% BSA in PBS, pH 7,4. Each of the labelled antibodies were added (300 μl in PBS, pH 7.4, 800.000 RLU/300 μl) an incubated for 2h at room temperature, After washing 5 times (each 1 ml of washing solution (20 mmol/1 PBS, pH 7.4, 0.1% Triton X 100), the remaining luminescence (labelled antibody) was quantified using the AutoLumat Luminumeter 953. MRPENK-peptide was used as reference substance (100%).

[0128] The crossreactivities of the different antibodies are listed in table 3.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 3 MRPENK DAEE EEDDSLA LKEL TGDNRERS SDNE (SEQ ID Antibody DD NSSDLLK LETG HHQDGSDNE EEVS NO. 6) NT- 121 10 <1 <1 <1 100 MRPENK NM- <1 98 <1 <1 <1 100 MRPENK MR- <1 <1 105 <1 <1 100 MRPENK MC- <1 <1 <1 115 <1 100 MRPENK CT- <1 <1 <1 <1 95 100 MRPENK

[0129] All antibodies bound the MRPENK peptide, comparable to the peptides which were used for immunization. Except for NT-MRPENK-antibody (10% cross reaction with EEDDSLANSSDLLK), no antibody showed a cross reaction with MR-PENK fragments not used for immunization of the individual antibody.

Pro-Enkephalin Immunoassay:

[0130] 50 μl of sample (or calibrator) was pipetted into coated tubes, after adding labeled antibody (200 ul), the tubes were incubated for 2 h at 18-25° C. Unbound tracer was removed by washing 5 times (each 1 ml) with washing solution (20 mmol/1 PBS, pH 7.4, 0.1% Triton X-100). Tube-bound labelled antibody was measured by using the Luminumeter 953. Using a fixed concentration of 1000 pmol/of MRPENK. The signal (RLU at 1000 pmol MRPENK/1) to noise (RLU without MRPENK) ratio of different antibody combinations is given in table 4. All antibodies were able to generate a sandwich complex with any other antibody. Surprisingly, the strongest signal to noise ratio (best sensitivity) was generated by combining the MR-MRPENK- and CT-MRPENK antibody. Subsequently, we used this antibody combination to perform the MRPENK-immunoassay for further investigations. MR-MRPENK antibody was used as coated tube antibody and CT-MRPENK antibody was used as labelled antibody.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 4 Solid phase antibody Labelled NT- NM- MR- MC- CT- antibody MRPENK MRPENK MRPENK MRPENK MRPENK NT- /  27 212 232 <1 MRPENK NM- 36 / 451 487 <1 MRPENK MR- 175 306 / 536 1050 MRPENK MC- 329 577 542 / <1 MRPENK CT- <1 615 1117  516 / MRPENK

Calibration:

[0131] The assay was calibrated, using dilutions of synthetic MRPENK, diluted in 20 mM K2PO4, 6 mM EDTA, 0.5% BSA, 50 μM Amastatin, 100 μM Leupeptin, pH 8.0. Pro-Enkephalin control plasma is available at ICI-diagnostics, Berlin, Germany.

[0132] FIG. 1 shows a typical Pro-Enkephalin dose/signal curve.

[0133] The assay sensitivity was 20 determinations of 0-calibrator (no addition of MRPENK)+2SD) 5.5 pmol/L.

Creatinine Clearance

[0134] Creatinine clearance was determined using the MDRD formula (see Levey et al, 2009).

Example 2

PENK in Healthy Subjects

[0135] Healthy subjects (n=4211, average age 56 years) were measured using the MRPENK assay. The mean value was 44.7 pmol MRPENK/L, the lowest value was 9 pmol/L and the 99.sup.th percentile was 80 pmol/L. Since the assay sensitivity was 5.5 pmol/L, 100% of all healthy subjects were detectable using the described MRPENK assay (see FIG. 2).

[0136] Pro-Enkephalin correlates with Creatinine Clearance in healthy subjects with normal kidney function.

[0137] Surprisingly, Pro-Enkephalin was negatively correlated with Creatinine Clearance in healthy subjects (r=−0.33, p<0.0001), see FIG. 3. The coefficient of correlation was slightly stronger in male than in females (r=−0.34 vs −0.29, both p<0.0001). These data indicating a strong association between PENK and kidney function.

[0138] FIG. 3: correlation of creatinine clearance vs. PENK in healthy subjects. Y axis: quartiles of Creatinine Clearance, x axis: quartiles of PENK.

Example 3

[0139] Correlation of PENK and Kidney Function (Creatinine Clearance) in Patients with Chronic and Acute Diseases

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 5 Disease r-value p-value Chronic Heart Failure −0.55 <0.0001 N = 122 Acute Heart Failure −0.68 <0.0001 N = 149 Acute Myocardial Infarction −0.82 <0.0001 N = 78 Sepsis −0.74 <0.0001 N = 101 SIRS −0.79 <0.0001 N = 109
PENK Correlated Always Significantly with Creatinine Clearance, in Acute Diseases the Correlation was Stronger than in Chronic Diseases or in Healthy Subjects.

Example 4: PENK in Critical Ill Patients

[0140] To investigate the diagnostic performance of PENK for diagnosis of kidney failure in acute clinical settings, we performed the following clinical study:

Clinical Study

[0141] 101 ED patients fulfilling the definition of sepsis (Crit Care Med. 2008 January; 36(1):296-327.) were subsequently hospitalized (average 5 days of hospitalization) and received a standard of care treatment. EDTA-plasma was generated from day 1 (ED presentation) and one sample each day during hospital stay. The time to freeze samples for later analyte-measurement was less than 4h.

[0142] Patient characteristics are summarized in table 6:

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 6 in hospital all deaths discharged Variable (n = 101) (n = 27) (n = 74) p-value Demographics Gender-male    60 (60)    13 (48)    47 (64)   0.163 Age-median    78    77    80   0.142 [IQR] [72-72] [71.25-83] [75-84.5] Examination variables BP systolic   115   120   105   0.001 (mmHg)- [100-100] [106.25-138.75] [80-120] median [IQR] BP diastolic    65    65    60   0.002 (mmHg)- [60-60] [60-85] [50-70] median [IQR] HR-   100   100   100   0.407 median [IQR] [94-94] [94-114.75] [93.5-107.5] RR-    24    24    26   0.069 median [IQR] [22-22] [22-28] [24-28] MAP (mmHg)-    83.3    83.3    81.6   0.026 median [IQR] [74-74] [77.62-100.75] [63.5-89] concomitant diseases Cardiovascular-    26 (25.7)     9 (33.3)    17 (23)   0.311 yes Hypertensive-    47 (46.5)    13 (48.1)    34 (45.9)   1.000 yes Diabetes-yes    35 (34.7)     9 (33.3)    26 (35.1)   1.000 Cancere-yes    13 (12.9)     3 (11.1)    10 (13.5)   1.000 routine labaratory variables Blood    31(31)     5 (19)    26 (35)   0.246 culture-yes negative    15 (16.3)     2 (8)    13 (19.4) positive    16 (17.4)     3 (12)    13 (19.4) Creatinine    48    56    31.5   0.043 clearance [23.25-23.25] [29.25-80] [14.75-66] (ml/min)- median [IQR] Creatinine-     1.3     1.25     1.8   0.080 median [IQR] [0.9-0.9] [0.9-2.08] [1-3.15] UREA-    36    31.5    51   0.004 median [IQR] [21-21] [20-53.25] [42-87] GCS-    15    15     8 <0.001 median [IQR] [10-10] [12.5-15] [8-11] Pcr-    16    14.5    17.35   0.846 median [IQR] [6.6-6.6] [6.7-23.7] [6.6-28.05] Gluco-   113.5   110   128   0.400 median [IQR] [94.5-94.5] [95.5-144] [94-160.5] biliru-     0.9     0.9     0.91   0.534 median [IQR] [0.71-0.71] [0.7-1.03] [0.77-1.18] GR-     3.8     3.8     3.7   0.684 median [IQR] [3.3-3.3] [3.2-4.3] [3.4-4.2] GB- 12700 13100 11920   0.343 median [IQR] [6774-6774] [8115-17565] [25.55-18790] PLT-  213   217   185   0.113 median [IQR] [150-150] [154.75-301] [130-236.5] HCT-    32    31.5    34   0.149 median [IQR] [28-28] [28-37] [31.25-39.5] Leuco/Neutr    87    86    91   0.001 (%)- [80-80] [78.25-89.95] [87-93.05] median [IQR] HB-    10.4    10.15    10.85   0.220 median [IQR] [9.47-9.47] [9.3-12.4] [9.9-12.67] Na-   137   137   139   0.204 median [IQR] [134-134] [133-141] [134-144.5] K-     3.9     3.9     3.9   0.982 median [IQR] [3.5-3.5] [3.6-4.3] [3.3-5.1] INR-     1.19     1.19     1.18   0.731 median [IQR] [1.1-1.1] [1.1-1.4] [1.04-1.36] TC-    38.4    38.5    36 <0.001 median [IQR] [36-36] [38.12-38.7] [35.55-38.5] SAO2-    94    95    93   0.119 median [IQR] [90-90] [90.25-97] [88.5-95.5] pH-     7.45     7.46     7.4 <0.001 median [IQR] [7.38-7.38] [7.4-7.5] [7.24-7.4] PO2-    67    66.5    67   0.806 median [IQR] [56-56] [56-78] [56.5-79.5] PCO2-    36    37.5    34   0.245 median [IQR] [32-32] [33-43.75] [30-41] Lact-     1.5     1.3     2.5 <0.001 median [IQR] [1-1] [0.83-1.9] [1.4-4.15] Bic-    23.5    24.25    21   0.001 median [IQR] [21-21] [21.43-28] [17.35-23.25] FiO2 (%)-    21    21    24 <0.001 median [IQR] [21-21] [21-23.25] [21-45] other Acute organ    39 (43.3)    16 (64)    23 (35.4)   0.021 disfunction-yes Apache    19    14.65    32 <0.001 score (%)- [12.5-12.5] [12.12-20.38] [20-39] median [IQR] Days     5     6     2   0.003 hospitalized- [2-2] [4-7] [1-6] median [IQR] treatment at baseline Diuresis (cc)-   900  1000   450 <0.001 median [IQR] [600-600] [700-1200] [200-1025] Steroids-yes    16 (15.8)     4 (14.8)    12 (16.2)   1.000 Vasopressors-    18 (17.8)    13 (48.1)     5 (6.8) <0.001 yes Antibiotics-   101 (100)    27 (100)    74 (100)   1.000 yes Fluid therapy-   101 (100)    27 (100)    74 (100)   1.000 yes [0143] 26.7% of all patients died during hospital stay and are counted as treatment non responder, 73.3% of all patients survived the sepsis and are counted as treatment responder. [0144] 53% off all patients presenting with sepsis had an non-normal PENK value >80 pmol/L (99 percentile), indicating PENK not to be a marker for the infection.

Results of Clinical Study

[0145] PENK highly correlated to creatinine clearance (r=−0.74, p<0.0001, FIG. 4).

PENK Diagnoses Kidney Dysfunction:

[0146] Kidney dysfunction was defined based on the RIFLE criteria (Venkatamaran and Kellum, 2007). Patients were counted as kidney dysfunction if any of the RIFLE classification factors was fulfilled. Within the study cohort, we determined the RIFLE within 90 subjects at day 1 (presentation at ED), 39 patients fulfilled RIFLE classification (had risk of kidney disease, kidney injury, kidney failure loss of kidney function or end-stage kidney disease) and 51 patients had no kidney dysfunction. Increased PENK was significantly (p=<0.0001) correlated with kidney dysfunction (AUC: 0.868). (FIGS. 5 and 6)

[0147] To compare the diagnostic value for kidney dysfunction, we used NGAL as reference marker (Soni et al, 2010). NGAL was measured, using a commercially ELISA (NGAL Elisa kit, Bioporto, Gentofte, Denmark).

[0148] NGAL, like PENK, was significantly increased in patients with kidney dysfunction (p<0.0001), the AUC for diagnosis of kidney dysfunction was 0.809. (FIGS. 7 and 8)

[0149] Comparing PENK and NGAL showed a strong superiority of PENK vs NGAL for diagnosis of kidney dysfunction: the Chi2 value of PENK was 45.32 vs. 32.21 for NGAL, indicating a 40% improvement of diagnostic quality (specificity and sensitivity) by PENK. (Table 7)

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 7 Model LR C index Model N Events Chi2 d.f. p-value [95-CI] PCT 76 34 13.02 1 0.00031 0.721 [0.602, 0.839] Apache 90 39 28.58 1 <0.00001 0.778 [0.681, 0.874] NGal 90 39 32.21 1 <0.00001 0.809 [0.723, 0.896] PENK 90 39 45.32 1 <0.00001 0.868 [0.796, 0.94]

Initial PENK is Highly Prognostic.

[0150] We correlated the initial PENK value with the in hospital mortality and compared PENK with APACHE 2 sepsis score (see Knaus et al, 1985, 2001) and creatinine clearance. PENK is highly prognostic for sepsis outcome (see FIG. 9) and comparable to APACHE 2 score (AUC/C index 0.744 (PENK) and 0.783 (Apache). There is a significant added information if PENK and APACHE 2 are combined (combined AUC: 0.794 FIG. 10). PENK is substantially stronger in prognosis than the creatinine clearance (AUC 0.638). Surprisingly, the prognostic value of PENK was stronger after the first day of ICU-treatment (AUC 0.79).

Cut Off-Analysis for in Hospital Death Prognosis Using Baseline Sample and 1 Sample after 1 Day of ICU Treatment.

[0151] Since the prognostic power of PENK was further improved one day after starting ICU treatment, we analyzed the PENK in serial measurements of day before ICU-treatment and 1 day after starting ICU treatment. To illustrate the clinical performance, we used a simple cut off analysis at a cut off value of 100 pmol/L.

[0152] If patients are below the cut off at hospital presentation and remain below the cut off after initiating ICU treatment, the mortality was 11% (well treated before and during hospitalization). If PENK was above the cut off at both time points, the mortality was about 5 times higher (52.5%) (not responding to treatment) and if patients present with PENK values above 100 pmol/1 and reducing their PENK levels below 100 pmol/1 during ICU treatment the mortality was 0 (treatment responder). These data indicate a strong association of PENK and treatment success, supporting its use for therapy follow up (serial testing).

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 8 mortality N patients died vs all PENK > 100 pmol/l presentation 52.5% 21/40 and first day after ICU treatment PENK > 100 pmol/l at presentation    0%  0/7 and < 100 pmol/l first day after ICU treatment PENK < 100 pmol/l at presentation   11%  6/54 and first day of ICU treatment

[0153] FIG. 11 a-d: examples of patient follow up measurements. [0154] a) A patient (survivor) with initial PENK<100 pmol/L and remained <100 pmol/L during hospital stay. [0155] b) A patient (died during hospital stay) with initial PENK>100 pmol/L and was not reduced to values <100 pmol/L. [0156] c) A patient (died during hospital stay) with initial PENK>100 pmol/L and was not reduced to values <100 pmol/L. [0157] d) A patient (survivor) with initial PENK>100 pmol/L, the PENK value declined to values <100 pmol/L within one day of ICU treatment.

Example 5: The Use of Serial Measurement of PENK

[0158] In the patient population described in example 4 (patients with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock) plasma PENK was measured on the day of admission and on the following day (day 1). Using a simple cut-off value of 100 pmol/L, which is close to the 99th percentile of the normal range, the population was segmented in two groups (above and below 100 pmol/L) and the corresponding 7 day survival rates were depicted in Kaplan-Meier-Plots (FIGS. 16 a) and b)). Patients with a PENK concentration below 100 pmol/L on the day of admission, whose PENK concentration remained below 100 pmol/L on day 1, had a high survival rate of 87%, whereas, when their PENK concentration increased over 100 pmol/L on day 1, the survival rate was lowered to 67%. In contrast, patients with a PENK concentration above 100 pmol/L on the day of admission, whose PENK concentration remained above 100 pmol/L on day 1, had a poor survival rate of only 50%, whereas, when their PENK concentration decreased below 100 pmol/L on day 1, the survival rate was 100%.

Example 6

[0159] Using the plasma PENK concentrations determined in the patient population described in example 4 (patients with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock) on the day of admission, it was analyzed by multivariable linear regression analysis, which parameters/variables determine to which extent the PENK concentrations. In FIG. 17 the partial R2 are depicted. The analysis demonstrates that measures of kidney function (in the case shown creatinine clearance) are by far the strongest determinants for PENK concentrations.

TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 9 deaths within 7 day Variable-median all 7 days survivor [IQR) (n = 101) (n = 28) (n = 73) p-value PENK (pmol/L) 87 [50-205) 209 [77-499) 75 [47-124) <0.001 Creatinine 48 [23-77) 33 [15-69) 56 [29-81) 0.071 clearance (ng/mL) Apache score 16 [13-21) 23 [18-27) 14 [12-18) <0.001 (points)

[0160] Table 9: Association of variables determined in the patient population as described in example 4 on the day of admission with the 7 day mortality.

PENK in Males

[0161] Using PENK as prognostic marker, PENK at first day (presentation at ED) was even stronger in prognosis of in hospital death in the male population (AUC 0.849, FIG. 12), a combination of PENK and Apache resulted in an AUC of 0.89 vs 0.837 Apache alone (FIG. 13). The combination of PENK and creatinine clearance generated a superior prognostic value of AUC 0.91 vs 0.721 for creatinine clearance alone (FIG. 14). As for the whole patient population, the prognostic value of PENK was stronger after the first day of ICU-treatment (day 2, AUC 0.872).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0162] FIG. 1: Shows a typical ProEnkephalin dose/signal curve. Standard curve proEnkephalin

[0163] FIG. 2: Frequency distribution of Pro Enkephalin in a healthy population (n=4211) The mean value of PENK was 44.7 pmol/L, standard deviation=1.27, the 99 percentile (upper normal range) was 80 pmol PENK/L. FIG. 2 shows the LN values of PENK.

[0164] FIG. 3: Correlation of creatinine clearance vs. PENK in healthy subjects. Y axis: quartiles of Creatinine Clearance, x axis: quartiles of PENK.

[0165] FIG. 4: PENK highly correlated to creatinine clearance (r=−0.74, p<0.0001).

[0166] FIG. 5: Increased PENK was significantly correlated with kidney dysfunction.

[0167] FIG. 6: A receiver/operator curve (ROC) for Pro-Enkephalin and the diagnosis of Kidney Dysfunction according the RIFLE criteria (see above). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.868, indicating a strong diagnostic power of Pro-Enkephalin for Kidney Dysfunction.

[0168] FIG. 7: Increased NGAL was significantly increased in patients with kidney dysfunction. The normal ranges of NGAL (range 0.037-0.106 μg/mL; http://www.bioporto.com/products/bioporto_diagnostics/ngal_elisa_kits/ngal_rapid_elisa_kit_ce_ivd) is indicated by a shadowed area in the graph.

[0169] FIG. 8: A receiver/operator curve (ROC) for NGAL and the diagnosis of Kidney Dysfunction according the RIFLE criteria (see above). We used NGAL as a reference marker for Kidney dysfunction. The AUC was 0.809, substantially lower than for Pro-Enkephalin (AUC 0.868, FIG. 6), indicating the incremental value of Pro-Enkephalin.

[0170] FIG. 9: PENK is highly prognostic for sepsis outcome

[0171] FIG. 10: There is a significant added information if PENK and APACHE 2 are combined

[0172] FIG. 11a): A patient (survivor) with initial PENK<100 pmol/L and remained <100 pmol/L during hospital stay

[0173] FIG. 11B): A patient (died during hospital stay) with initial PENK>100 pmol/L and was not reduced to values <100 pmol/L

[0174] FIG. 11e): A patient (died during hospital stay) with initial PENK>100 pmol/L and was not reduced to values <100 pmol/L

[0175] FIG. 11d): A patient (survivor) with initial PENK>100 pmol/L, the PENK value declined to values <100 pmol/L within one day of ICU treatment

[0176] FIG. 12: PENK at first day (presentation at ED) was even stronger in prognosis of in hospital death in the male population

[0177] FIG. 13: A combination of PENK and Apache resulted in an AUC of 0.89 vs. 0.837 Apache alone

[0178] FIG. 14: The combination of PENK and creatinine clearance generated a superior prognostic value of AUC 0.91 vs. 0.721 for creatinine clearance alone

[0179] FIG. 15A/FIG. 15B: Concentrations of plasma PENK (A) and NGAL (B), respectively, in septic patients categorized by grade of acute kidney dysfunction. 0=no kidney dysfunction; R=Risk; I=Injury; F=Failure; L=Loss. The categories are defined as follows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_kidney_injury): Risk: GFR decrease >25%, serum creatinine increased 1.5 times or urine production of <0.5 ml/kg/hr for 6 hours; Injury: GFR decrease >50%, doubling of creatinine or urine production <0.5 ml/kg/hr for 12 hours; Failure: GFR decrease >75%, tripling of creatinine or creatinine >355 μmol/1 (with a rise of >44) (>4 mg/dl) OR urine output below 0.3 ml/kg/hr for 24 hours; Loss: persistent AKI or complete loss of kidney function for more than 4 weeks. Normal ranges of PENK (see FIG. 2) and NGAL (range 0.037-0.106 μg/mL; http://www.bioporto.com/products/bioporto_diagnostics/ngal_elisa_kits/nga_rapid_elisa_kit_ce_ivd) concentrations are indicated by shadowed areas in the graphs. The figure demonstrates that NGAL concentrations are massively elevated in septic patients even when they have no kidney dysfunction, whereas this is not the case for PENK.

[0180] FIG. 16A/FIG. 16B: Survival rates of critically ill patients depending on their plasma PENK concentrations on the day of admission and on the next day (day 1). Panel A: On the left hand side, the Kaplan-Meier-Plot is shown for those patient subpopulations with a PENK concentration on admission of above and below 100 pmol/L, respectively. On the right hand side the Kaplan-Meier-Plot is shown for those patient subpopulations with a PENK concentration on day 1 of above and below 100 pmol/L, respectively, who had a PENK concentration below 100 pmol/L on the day of admission. Panel B: On the left hand side, the Kaplan-Meier-Plot is shown for those patient subpopulations with a PENK concentration on admission of above and below 100 pmol/L, respectively. On the right hand side the Kaplan-Meier-Plot is shown for those patient subpopulations with a PENK concentration on day 1 of above and below 100 pmol/L, respectively, who had a PENK concentration above 100 pmol/L on the day of admission.

[0181] FIG. 17: Multivariable linear regression predicting PENK. Note: BP, Creatinine and Urea were left out due to high correlation with MAP or creatinine clearance. The linear regression was calculated using the variables listed as follows: Log(PENK)=a*CreaClearance+b*Cardiovasc+c*MAP+etc. Partial R2 gives the degree up to which each variable contributes to PENK, i.e. Crea Clearance is strongest and has a partial R2 of slightly above 0.15, i.e. crea clearance accounts for about 15% of the variability that you observe in PENK. Importantly, age, gender, etc. do not have a significant influence on PENK concentrations.