In 318 HF patients, levels of BNP were significantly lower in the obese than in the nonobese subjects (205 ± 22 vs. 335 ± 39 pg/mL, p = 0.0007), and multivariate regression analysis identified body mass index (BMI) as an independent negative correlate of BNP level [46]. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is hydrops fetalis.