1. Blood tests to monitor biochemical markers of cardiac remodeling and indices of heart function. We will assess atrial natriuretic factor; brain natriuretic peptide; norepinephrine; matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 13; gelatinases 2 and 9; soluble tumor necrotic factor-II; angiotensin; aldosterone; ADH; rennin; interleukin-6; TNF-α; homocysteine; C-reactive protein; quantitative D-dimer; fibrin; fibrinogen; and fibrin split products. Biochemical markers of cardiac remodeling are being intensively studied globally, with novel markers discovered and published frequently. Serum will be banked for the duration of the study to allow for retrospective investigation of newly published markers.