FIGURE 1.

Effects of baroreflex activation therapy on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (a) and spontaneous baroreflex muscle sympathetic nerve activity sensitivity (BRS, b) in heart failure patients (closed circles). Individual and average (means ± SEM) data are shown and refer to values recorded before (baseline) and 6, 21 and 43 months following baroreflex activation therapy. In each panel, individual and average values of healthy controls are also shown (open circles). Asterisks (^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.02) refer to the statistical significance of the values recorded before and at various months after baroreflex activation therapy. Statistical significance between values recorded in heart failure patients at the 43rd month after baroreflex activation therapy and those obtained in controls are shown as P value. BRS, spontanoeus baroreflex sensitivity.