Patients with esophageal varices (n = 24, 69%) had a significantly higher serum NT-proBNP level (median value 338.63 pg/mL [range 69.17-6052.5] vs 47.72 [range 11.31-570.42]; P = 0.014) than patients without esophageal varices. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is esophageal varices.