[Copeptin: diagnostic parameter, biomarker, or both?].

Copeptin denominates the C-terminal fragment of the vasopressin (AVP) precursor hormone. Circulating copeptin levels reflect the activity of the AVP system and correlate closely with plasma osmolality. The measurement of stimulated plasma AVP levels is crucial in the differential diagnosis of diabetes insipidus, particularly the characterization of partial forms, and is used to diagnose primary polydipsia. However, determination of AVP levels is technically demanding, and validated assays are not readily available for clinical routine. Recently, a reliable sandwich immunoassay for measurement of serum or plasma copeptin levels has been introduced. Assaying stimulated copeptin levels will be helpful in the differential diagnosis of diabetes insipidus. Recent studies suggest that measurement of copeptin, once the assay is commercially available, might prove useful in the workup of hyponatremic disorders. Moreover, copeptin has been found to be a prognostically relevant biomarker in a variety of illnesses such as sepsis, shock, pneumonia, acute exacerbation of COPD, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.