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During heart transplantation (HTX) all neural connections are severed, Ln humans, signs of autonomic reinnervation have been found, in this study non-invasive tests were used to compare signs of sympathetic and parasympathetic reinnervation. Non-invasive autonomic function tests and heart rate variability parameters (HRV; 24 h electrocardiographic registration) were used to investigate signs of reinnervation, 16 HTX patients (14 males) were compared with age-and sex-matched controls, Parasympathetic heart rate changes in HTX compared to controls were attenuated during the diving test, deep breathing, the Valsalva maneuver and standing up but not during carotid sinus massage, Sympathetic heart rate increases were lower during the cold presser test and mental stress, The blood pressure responses were comparable to the control group, but not during active standing and tilting. This finding suggests an obligatory 'blood pressure' role for the innervated heart in these two tests, All HRV parameters were lower in HTX. One or more normal parasympathetic responses were found in 13 out of 16 patients versus 4 out of 16 with normal sympathetic responses (p

During heart transplantation (HTX) all neural connections are severed, Ln humans, signs of autonomic reinnervation have been found, in this study non-invasive tests were used to compare signs of sympathetic and parasympathetic reinnervation. Non-invasive autonomic function tests and heart rate variability parameters (HRV; 24 h electrocardiographic registration) were used to investigate signs of reinnervation, 16 HTX patients (14 males) were compared with age-and sex-matched controls, Parasympathetic heart rate changes in HTX compared to controls were attenuated during the diving test, deep breathing, the Valsalva maneuver and standing up but not during carotid sinus massage, Sympathetic heart rate increases were lower during the cold presser test and mental stress, The blood pressure responses were comparable to the control group, but not during active standing and tilting. This finding suggests an obligatory 'blood pressure' role for the innervated heart in these two tests, All HRV parameters were lower in HTX. One or more normal parasympathetic responses were found in 13 out of 16 patients versus 4 out of 16 with normal sympathetic responses (p