They show all the anatomical and physiological hallmarks of DCM, and present with up-regulated expression levels of classical biomarkers for hypertrophy such as ANF (atrial natriuretic factor), BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) and β-myosin heavy chain as well as stress markers such as CARP (Cardiac-specific ankyrin repeat protein, CARP1/Ankrd1)12. Here, NPPB is linked to familial dilated cardiomyopathy.