In summary, this study shows that patients with dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy present elevated expression of NPPA mRNA but not of proANP or ANP protein levels in human left ventricular apical tissue, which may be due to posttranscripcional regulation of NPPA or different pathways for ANP secretion between the atrium and ventricle. The gene discussed is NPPA; the disease is ischemic cardiomyopathy.