NPPB and coronary artery disorder: The noncausal explanation is further supported by the noncausality suggested by Mendelian randomization studies (acknowledging that associations of genetically determined lifelong BNP levels with coronary disease may have limited relevance to a temporally boxed-in series of events): a genetic variant affecting the expression of the BNP gene (NPPB, rs198389) is not associated with cardiovascular endpoints12 or coronary artery disease13.