Exercise training in advanced heart failure patients: discordance between improved exercise tolerance and unchanged NT-proBNP levels.

Background: Exercise training can improve aerobic capacity and symptoms in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients.

Aims: To test the feasibility of exercise training in advanced CHF patients, and examine the potential benefit from peripheral vascular and muscular conditioning as well as improved central hemodynamic and neurohumoral status.

Methods And Results: Thirty NYHA functional class III, CHF patients (mean age 61+/-13 yr, ejection fraction 27+/-4%, VO2max 11.