Children with minor cardiac anomalies such as patent foramen ovale (n = 13), atrial septal aneurysm (n = 1), and dysplastic aortic valve (n = 2) and children after ductal ligation in the neonatal period (n = 3) showed significantly higher NT-pro-BNP levels (p = 0.045). The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is Atrial septal dilatation.