Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing mammals with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), as well as methods and materials involved in assessing outcomes. For example, methods and materials for using the level of plasma CNP and the level of urinary CNP to determine whether or not a mammal is developing or likely to develop more severe ADHF, as well as methods and materials for using the level of plasma CNP and the level of urinary CNP to identify patients having an increased likelihood of experiencing a poor outcome are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to using natriuretic peptides (NPs) as markers for acute kidney injury (AKI), and methods and materials for using NPs to treat patients identified as having, or being likely to have, AKI.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing renal structural alterations (e.g., renal fibrosis, glomerular basement thickening, mesangial matrix expansion, swollen podocytes, and foot processes effacement) as well as methods and materials involved in assessing outcomes. For example, methods and materials for using the level of urinary CNP (e.g., a urinary to plasma CNP ratio) to determine whether or not a mammal is developing renal structural alterations (e.g., renal fibrosis, glomerular basement thickening, mesangial matrix expansion, swollen podocytes, and foot processes effacement) as well as methods and materials for using the level of urinary CNP levels to identify patients having an increased likelihood of experiencing a poor outcome are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing renal structural alterations (e.g., renal fibrosis, glomerular basement thickening, mesangial matrix expansion, swollen podocytes, and foot processes effacement) as well as methods and materials involved in assessing outcomes. For example, methods and materials for using the level of urinary CNP (e.g., a urinary to plasma CNP ratio) to determine whether or not a mammal is developing renal structural alterations (e.g., renal fibrosis, glomerular basement thickening, mesangial matrix expansion, swollen podocytes, and foot processes effacement) as well as methods and materials for using the level of urinary CNP levels to identify patients having an increased likelihood of experiencing a poor outcome are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing renal structural alterations (e.g., renal fibrosis, glomerular basement thickening, mesangial matrix expansion, swollen podocytes, and foot processes effacement) as well as methods and materials involved in assessing outcomes. For example, methods and materials for using the level of urinary CNP (e.g., a urinary to plasma CNP ratio) to determine whether or not a mammal is developing renal structural alterations (e.g., renal fibrosis, glomerular basement thickening, mesangial matrix expansion, swollen podocytes, and foot processes effacement) as well as methods and materials for using the level of urinary CNP levels to identify patients having an increased likelihood of experiencing a poor outcome are provided.