The role of copeptin as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in the emergency department

BMC Med. 2012 Jan 20:10:7. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-10-7.

Abstract

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated in response to stress. One of the activated hypothalamic hormones is arginine vasopressin, a hormone involved in hemodynamics and osmoregulation. Copeptin, the C-terminal part of the arginine vasopressin precursor peptide, is a sensitive and stable surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin release. 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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Glycopeptides / blood*
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology
  • Prognosis
  • Risk
  • Stroke / diagnosis*
  • Stroke / physiopathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Glycopeptides
  • copeptins