The autonomic nervous system in congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by striking abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system. The mechanisms and biological importance of these disturbances are not clearly defined. Nonetheless, it is possible that autonomic disturbances play an important role in the pathophysiology and prognosis of heart failure, and therefore drugs that alter autonomic function may provide additional therapeutic options in the management of this syndrome.