MEANS AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING HEART FAILURE IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION USING GDF-15 AND NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES

摘要

The present invention is concerned with methods and devices for medical diagnosis. Specifically, it relates to a method of diagnosing heart failure in a subject exhibiting atrial fibrillation, said method comprising determining the amount of GDF-15 in a sample of said subject and comparing the said amount of GDF-15 witha suitable reference amount whereby heart failure is to be diagnosed. Moreover, the present invention relates to a diagnostic device and a kit for carrying out the aforementioned method.