[Functional capacity after cardiac transplantation]

Abstract

Cardiac transplantation has transformed the prognosis of NYHA Class IV severe cardiac failure. However, despite a "new heart", the exercise tolerance of transplanted patients remains poor for a long time. Cardiac denervation which decreases the chronotropic reserve, diastolic left ventricular dysfunction and intrinsic muscular abnormalities related to lack of training and to treatment are the underlying causes.