Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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To determine the after-effects on sympathetic nerve activity and calf and systemic haemodynamics of symptom-limited exercise in young patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. ⋯ In young patients with dilated cardiomyopathy the haemodynamic after-effects of submaximal symptom-limited exercise resemble responses to pharmacological afterload reduction but are not accompanied by reflex sympathetic activation. Sustained calf and systemic vasodilation after exercise were not attenuated, as compared with healthy controls. These cardiac, peripheral, and sympathoneural after-effects provide further support for exercise training as a non-pharmacological adjunct to the management of chronic stable heart failure.