NPPB and hydrops fetalis: Recently, McKechnie et al. [231] evaluated using multiple regression analysis the relationship of activation of natriuretic peptide system (evaluated by NT-proBNP assay) with baseline inflammation (evaluated by CRP and IL-6 assays) and incidence of HF in 3569 men followed for 16.3 years (aged 40–59 years at enrollment) and without prevalent myocardial infarction or HF.