NPPB and coronary artery disorder: Thus, precursor proBNP is produced intracellularly and then cleaved by endoprotease upon secretion, which results in the formation of biologically inert NT-proBNP and biologically active BNP.34 BNP assists in regulating blood pressure, blood volume, and sodium balance.35 Prospective studies have shown that elevated NT-proBNP is a predictor of total CVD and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, even after controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.5–7