In the present study, although an elevated NT-proBNP had poor predictive value for identifying elevated filling pressures, an NT-proBNP concentration below 1,200 pg/ml had a negative predictive value of 92% for the combination of cardiac index below 2.2 l/min per m2 and PCWP above 18 mmHg – the classical definition of cardiogenic shock. This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and Shock.