Influence of aerobic exercise training on left ventricular remodeling and neurohumoral response in patients with myocardial infarction

Abstract

Purpose: The effects of aerobic training on ventricular remodeling (VR) and neurohumoral activation after myocardial infarction (MI) have not been completely elucidated. It was investigated the influence of aerobic training on physical fitness, on VR and neurohumoral response after MI. Methods:Sixteen patients with anterior wall myocardial infarction were randomized into two groups: training (TG=8) and control (CG=8). TG patients performed moderate-intensity aerobic training. Before and after a 12-week follow-up all patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and blood sampling for measurement of NT-proBNP. Results:In the follow-up, there was a significant increase in the ΔO2 pulse in the TG (6.4 ± 1.2 to 8.1 ± 1.7; p=0.01), with no significant change in the CG (7.0 ± 2.3 to 6.9 ± 3.0; p>0.99). It was observed an increase of LV mass/EDV ratio from 0.72 ± 0.19 to 0.96 ± 0.30 g.ml-1 (p=0.007) in the CG, but no change in the TG from 0.89 ± 0.33 to 0.96 ± 0.26 g.ml-1 (p=0.54). There was a significant decrease of NT-proBNP at rest and at effort peak in both groups. Conclusion:Aerobic training seems to have a protective effect over the spontaneous process of LV concentric remodeling after myocardial infarction, and it promotes an improvement of the LV systolic performance during dynamic physical effort, without triggering adverse neurohumoral activation.