Miyoshi T, et al. - Given that natriuretic peptides (NPs) are established markers of heart failure (HF) in adult cardiology, researchers evaluated the significance of plasma NP levels in the assessment of HF in fetuses with a congenital heart defect (CHD) and/or arrhythmia. In this prospective observational study of 129 singletons with CHD and/or arrhythmia and 127 control participants, the investigators observed a correlation between plasma NP levels in fetuses with CHD and/or arrhythmia and severity of fetal HF. They also noted that increased central venous pressure secondary to arrhythmia or atrioventricular valve regurgitation due to CHD primary led to elevated NP levels, rather than the morphological abnormality itself.