Impact of an exercise training program on cardiac neuronal function in heart failure patients on optimal medical therapy : A randomized Iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy study.

Background The syndrome of heart failure (HF) is characterized by left ventricular dysfunction and a compensatory chronic over activation of the sympathetic nervous system. We wanted to investigate if the beneficial effects of exercise training (ET) in HF patients on optimal medical therapy (OMT) are associated with alterations in cardiac sympathetic activity.