NPPA and Stroke: In fact, we and other groups previously showed that subjects carrying the T2238C ANP gene variant have a significantly higher risk to have a stroke or a myocardial infarction and display a significant increase of circulating markers of leukocyte activation.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Overall, this evidence highlights the need to find therapeutic targets to prevent or reduce the detrimental effects of C2238/αANP gene variant, which is relatively frequent in the general population.