NPPB and heart failure: Natriuretic peptides are hormone-like molecules secreted bytheheart in response to increased left ventricular wall stress and stretch.Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP)are both biomarkers for heart failure and are clinically used to detectheart dysfunction111 Mechanical stretchis mainly caused by the BNP rise by myocardium, although the exactmechanism remains unclear.