Publication

Relative frequency of functional sympathetic and parasympathetic reinnervation after heart transplantation

Journal Paper/Review - Jul 1, 1998

Units
PubMed

Citation
Brunner-La Rocca H, Weilenmann D, Bracht C, Carli S, Schlumpf M, Follath F, Kiowski W. Relative frequency of functional sympathetic and parasympathetic reinnervation after heart transplantation. The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 1998; 17:725-8.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 1998; 17
Publication Date
Jul 1, 1998
Issn Print
1053-2498
Pages
725-8
Brief description/objective

Although there is evidence of partial sympathetic reinnervation late after transplantation, little is known about the relative frequency of sympathetic and, in particular, parasympathetic reinnervation. We examined the heart rate response to various maneuvers (standing up, handgrip exercise, phase 2 of Valsalva maneuver for sympathetic function, carotid sinus massage, phase 4 of Valsalva maneuver, and atropine for parasympathetic function) in 65 patients 3 to 110 months after transplantation and in 16 healthy volunteers and defined reinnervation as either one normal (>50% of control group) and at least one partial (>33% of control group) heart rate response or partial responses in all three tests of the respective part of the autonomic nervous system. Thirty-five (54%) patients had sympathetic reinnervation, but only 16 (25%) had parasympathetic reinnervation (p < 0.001); earliest reinnervation was found 11 months after transplantation, and all but one patient with parasympathetic reinnervation also had sympathetic reinnervation. Signs of sympathetic but not parasympathetic reinnervation were common late (>5 years) after transplantation (74% vs 30%).