NPPB and heart failure: As Clerico et al. previously reported, NT-proBNP measurement has some strengths compared to BNP measurement: 1) it is more stable in plasma and has a longer biological half-life, 2) there is a less systematic difference between immunoassay methods, 3) there is a more significant increase in circulating levels of the peptide from an early phase of heart failure, 4) the user does not need to consider usage of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, which could increase BNP levels [19, 20].