Heart failure–specific relationship between muscle sympathetic nerve activity and aortic wave reflection
Background Reflected arterial waves contribute to left ventricular (LV) afterload. Heart failure
patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are afterload sensitive and sympathetically
activated. We tested the hypothesis that HFrEF patients exhibit a positive relationship
between sympathetic vasoconstrictor discharge and aortic wave reflection. Methods Sixteen
treated patients with HFrEF (61±9 years of age, left ventricular ejection fraction 30±7%, 3
women) and 16 similar-aged healthy control subjects (57±7 years of age, 4 women) …
patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are afterload sensitive and sympathetically
activated. We tested the hypothesis that HFrEF patients exhibit a positive relationship
between sympathetic vasoconstrictor discharge and aortic wave reflection. Methods Sixteen
treated patients with HFrEF (61±9 years of age, left ventricular ejection fraction 30±7%, 3
women) and 16 similar-aged healthy control subjects (57±7 years of age, 4 women) …
