Abstract
A significant series of experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the close association between reduced vagal reflexes (baroreflex sensitivity, BRS) and increased sudden and non-sudden cardiovascular mortality. Subsequently, evidence was provided that, also among chronic heart failure (HF) patients, depressed BRS is associated with a poorer outcome. At the same time, the encouraging results with experimental and clinical attempts to increase cardiac vagal activity led to a few experimental studies with vagal stimulation (VS) in different models for HF. We first performed a pilot study for VS in HF patients, and then in 2011 we reported the results of a small size multicentre clinical trial. The 6-month and 1-year results are encouraging for feasibility, safety and appear to have a favourable clinical effect. An ongoing large clinical trial will provide a definitive assessment of the efficacy and usefulness of chronic VS in HF patients.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 82-84 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Netherlands Heart Journal |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2013 |
Keywords
- Autonomic nervous system
- Baroreflex sensitivity
- Heart failure
- Vagal stimulation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine