Significant improvement of cardiac sympathetic function following cardiac support device implantation:: illustration by 123I-MIBG scintigraphy

Cardiac support device implantation is a new and promising therapy for refractory heart failure. If functional and echocardiographic modifications have largely been reported following this procedure, there is a paucity of information in the clinical setting about cellular abnormalities modifications during the 'reverse remodeling' process. We report for the first time a clinical measurement of cardiac sympathetic function using I-123-MIBG scintigraphy following cardiac support device implantation. (C) 2007 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.