This association was independent of age, NIHSS and female gender.[22] In another more recently published retrospective analysis from the Warfarin-Aspirin recurrent stroke study, patients with plasma concentrations of amino-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) over 750 pg/mL seemed to be at lower risk for subsequent events (i.e. recurrent ischemic stroke or death over 2 years) when treated with anticoagulants other than antiplatelet agents.[23] These findings underscore the role of natriuretic peptides as serum markers of impending cardiac arrhythmias and assist in their clinical management. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.