USE OF BNP-TYPE PEPTIDES FOR THE STRATIFICATION OF THERAPY WITH ERYTHROPOIETIC STIMULATING AGENTS

The present invention relates to the diagnosis of the risk of experiencing a cardiovascular complication in the context of treatment with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA's) such as erythropoietin and derivatives thereof particularly in the context of anemia. More particularly, the invention provides a method for diagnosing the risk of a patient of experiencing a cardiovascular complication as a consequence of future medication with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA), comprising the steps of (a) measuring the level of a BNP-type peptide in a sample of the patient, (b) diagnosing said risk by comparing the measured level of the BNP-type peptide to at least one reference level. The BNP-type peptide may for example be brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or the N-terminal fragment of BNP, NT-proBNP. The cardiovascular complication may include complications, such as stroke, transient cerebral ischemic attack, acute-coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure etc. Notably, the present invention also relates to dosages of ESA medication which do not cause hyperviscosity.