Gender differences in sympathetic neural activation following uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction
Open Access
- 22 May 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in European Heart Journal
- Vol. 30 (14), 1764-1770
- https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehp188
Abstract
To determine whether the magnitude of post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) sympathetic activation is greater in women (F-AMI) than men (M-AMI). Both sympatho-humoral activation and female gender are associated with worse outcome in the early phase following AMI. However, women have lower sympathetic output than men. We therefore examined matched groups of F-AMI (18) and M-AMI (18) patients 2–4 days following uncomplicated AMI, then 3 monthly to 9 months; matched normal control (NC) groups comprised M-NC (18) and F-NC (18). Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured by microneurography. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity was lower in the F-NC than M-NC (at least P < 0.05) and greater in the two AMI groups than their corresponding NC groups (at least P < 0.001). Muscle sympathetic nerve activity was similar in the F-AMI and M-AMI groups indicating a post-AMI increase in women of about twice that in men (P < 0.0001). Both AMI groups returned to corresponding NC (lower in women) levels by 9 months. Following uncomplicated AMI, women developed a relatively greater magnitude of sympathetic activation lasting until its resolution at 9 months. This is consistent with reports of their worse prognosis observed during this time period, with important potential clinical implications.Keywords
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