Similar to humans, these DCM mice pass through all four Stages A–D of HF in a sex-related manner from Stage A (risk without abnormalities) to progressively declining contractile function and increasing heart dilation (Stage B) to the development of peripheral and pulmonary edema and pleural effusions with increases in plasma ANP and BNP (Stage C) to the onset of severe HF and death (Stage D) [145,210]. This evidence concerns the gene NPPA and hydrops fetalis.