NPPB and familial dilated cardiomyopathy: As we previously reported, female mice with DCM begin to show declines in heart systolic function (ejection fraction) and increases in plasma renin activity concentrations around seven weeks of age (Stage B HF) [27], which precedes the development of progressive edema, further declines in systolic function, rises in ANP/BNP, and death as is typically seen in progressive HF (Figure 1a).