NPPB and heart failure: A growing list of molecules has been examined as possible molecular markers for heart failure (HF) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), exemplified by the myocyte injury markers troponins I and T, the myocyte stress markers Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and ST2/IL-33, and the inflammation markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and certain cytokines (TNF, IL-1β, and IL-18; Braunwald, 2008).