Although the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is not used in clinical practiceas much as the BNP/NT-proBNP, data have shown that the ANP can be clinicallyimportant as a prognostic factor in cardiovascular disease; indeed, the ANP andthe more stable MR-proANP,appropriate for plasma measurements, are produced when the proANP precursor iscleaved. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is cardiovascular disorder.