German researchers have looked at factors restoring nerve function to the heart after a transplant.

When someone has a heart transplant, the surgeon has to sever the nerve supply to the old heart. The nerves may, or may not, grow back. If they do, the new heart functions better and the person is more likely to experience chest pain as a sign of incipient heart attack (a positive attribute - because they can be treated more rapidly if they are aware of the problem).

Researchers in Munchen, Germany, studied 77 heart transplant recipients to see what factors affected the re-growth of the nerve supply. They have found that younger donors, and younger recipients, are more likely to have nerve re-growth following the transplant, although this may take years. In older people, there may be lower levels of the nerve growth factors needed to encourage the process. The study also showed that complications during surgery impede re-growth, perhaps because of the presence of excessive scar tissue. Although further research is still needed, these findings may help doctors more accurately assess the probable outcome of a heart transplant - although nerve re-growth did not impact the chances of survival.

Source

Circulation 8th July 2002