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Quantifying Acute Changes in Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Response to Central Nervous System Manipulations in Anesthetized Rats
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Clinical utility of sympathetic blockade in cardiovascular disease management

Chan Soon Park1, Hae-Young Lee1

  • 1a Department of Internal Medicine , Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul , Korea.

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|March 16, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Dysregulated sympathetic nervous system activity contributes to cardiovascular diseases. Sympathetic blockade offers therapeutic benefits for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure, with ongoing advancements in monitoring sympathetic function.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Sympathetic nervous system dysregulation is central to cardiovascular disease (CVD) development and progression.
  • Understanding and modulating sympathetic activity are critical for managing various cardiovascular conditions.
  • Chronic sympathetic activation involves multiple pathways implicated in CVD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on sympathetic blockade for managing hypertension, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and perioperative care.
  • To evaluate both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to sympathetic modulation.
  • To discuss advancements in measuring sympathetic nervous system activity.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of studies on sympathetic blockade in cardiovascular disease management.
  • Analysis of pharmacological interventions (e.g., beta-blockers).
  • Inclusion of non-pharmacological management strategies and new monitoring techniques.

Main Results:

  • Sympathetic blockade remains valuable for hypertension management and heart rate control in atrial fibrillation.
  • Beta-adrenergic antagonists are important for symptom control and secondary prevention in ischemic heart disease, though revascularization impacts their role.
  • Sympathetic blockade demonstrates efficacy in improving clinical outcomes for patients with heart failure.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting the sympathetic nervous system is a key strategy in cardiovascular medicine.
  • Advancements in sympathetic activity measurement enhance our understanding and potential interventions.
  • Sympathetic blockade continues to be a relevant therapeutic approach across a spectrum of cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract

Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationcardiovascular diseasecoronary artery diseaseheart failurehypertensionsympathetic nervous systemsympathetic-blocking agents

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