The role of copeptin as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in the emergency department
BMC Medicine 2012, 10:7 doi:10.1186/1741-7015-10-7
Abstract (provisional)
In response to stress, the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated. One of the hypothalamic hormones that are activated by stress is Arginine vasopressin (AVP). Copeptin, the C-terminal part of the Arginine vasopressin precursor peptide, is a sensitive and stable surrogate marker for AVP release, a hormone involved in hemodynamics and osmoregulation. Measurement of Copeptin levels has been shown to be useful in a variety of clinical scenarios, particularly as a prognostic marker in patients with acute diseases such as lower respiratory tract infection, heart disease, and stroke. The measurement of copeptin levels may provide crucial information for risk stratification in a variety of clinical situations. As such, the emergency department appears to be the ideal setting for its potential use. This review summarizes the recent progress towards determining the prognostic and diagnostic value of copeptin in the emergency department.