Despite an increasing number of patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure in the presence of a normal ejection fraction, there is little clinical trial data to guide clinicians in their acute management . Since the number of patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure in the presence of normal ejection fraction (>50%) is increasing, it is imperative to develop effective therapies which are supported by clinical evidence such as randomized clinical trials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of natriuretic peptide for the specific management of these patients.