NPPB and hydrops fetalis: Moreover, the negative prognostic stratification is improved by combining measurement of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP; a hormone secreted by cardiomyocytes in response to stretching derived by increased ventricular blood volume, and a validated HF biomarker) with the presence of LT3S both in acute decompensated and in chronic compensated HF (23, 24).