NPPB and heart failure: Although there were no relevant differences between the different etiology groups investigated in the current study, especially in the subgroup of heart failure patients suffering from ICM, interesting associations between the state of disease and the level of soluble serum ED-A+ Fn could be demonstrated, for example, a positive correlation with NYHA functional class, serum BNP levels, left ventricular dysfunction, or systolic pulmonary artery pressure.