Assessing risk of cerebrovascular thrombosis by measuring C4d on platelets

• US 20070202549A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: University Of Pittsburgh (University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education)
• Inventors: Ahearn, Joseph, Manzi, Susan, Kao, Amy
• Application Number:
  US11/521,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20070202549A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.210
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/2871 Cerebrovascular disorders, e.g. stroke, cerebral infarct, cerebral haemorrhage, transient ischemic event
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/564 for pre-existing immune complex or autoimmune disease , i.e. systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid factors or complement components C1-C9

Abstract

This invention provides for a convenient, economical, and sensitive test for assessing the risk of a person suffering from a thrombotic stroke. More specifically, it has been determined that persons at risk for cerebrovascular thrombosis have an elevated deposition of C4d on their platelets.

Claims

1. A method for assessing risk of cerebrovascular thrombosis in an individual comprising the steps of:

(a) determining the platelet surface level of a complement pathway component C4d in the individual, and

(b) comparing the level of C4d of the individual with a standard control,

wherein an increase in the level of C4d from the standard control indicates an increased risk of cerebrovascular thrombosis in the individual.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the level of C4d is determined using an antibody that specifically binds C4d.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the C4d antibody is labeled.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the C4d antibody is labeled with a fluorescent moiety.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the C4d antibody is detected by flow cytometry.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual has no clinical symptoms of cerebrovascular thrombosis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual has previously suffered from cerebrovascular thrombosis.

8. A method for diagnosing or monitoring cerebrovascular thrombosis in an individual comprising the steps of:

(a) determining the platelet surface level of a complement pathway component C4d in the individual, and

(b) comparing the level of C4d of the individual with a standard control,

wherein an increase in the level of C4d from the standard control indicates the presence of cerebrovascular thrombosis or a worsening of cerebrovascular thrombosis in the individual.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the level of C4d is determined using an antibody that specifically binds C4d.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the C4d antibody is labeled.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the C4d antibody is labeled with a fluorescent moiety.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the C4d antibody is detected by flow cytometry.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the individual has one or more clinical symptoms of cerebrovascular thrombosis.

14. A computer readable medium for predicting, diagnosing, or monitoring cerebrovascular thrombosis in an individual, the computer readable medium comprising:

(a) code for receiving data corresponding to a level of the complement pathway component C4d on the surface of platelets from an individual;

(b) code for retrieving a standard control; and

(c) code for comparing the data in (a) with the standard control in (b).