NPPB and congestive heart failure: Chronic heart failure can be described as a permanent inflammatory state.Despite a significant reduction in myocardial stress after LVAD implantation(volume and pressure unloading, reduction in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)), circulating levels ofinflammatory cytokines (i.e., TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein, andothers) remain significantly elevated.