title: Clinical value of baroreflex sensitivity.
abstract: The arterial baroreflex is an important determinant of the neural regulation of the cardiovascular system. It has been recognised that baroreflex-mediated sympathoexcitation contributes to the development and progression of many cardiovascular disorders. Accordingly, the quantitative estimation of the arterial baroreceptor-heart rate reflex (baroreflex sensitivity, BRS), has been regarded as a synthetic index of neural regulation at the sinus atrial node. The evaluation of BRS has been shown to provide clinical and prognostic information in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and heart failure that are reviewed in the present article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Fondazione "Salvatore Maugeri", IRCCS, Istituto Scientifico di Montescano, Montescano, Pavia, Italy, mariateresa.larovere@fsm.it.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: La Rovere
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maestri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sleight