SIR: Renal Denervation Helps Control Hypertension

HealthDay News - Renal denervation (RDN) appears to be safe and effective in reducing and controlling hypertension among individuals with uncontrolled hypertension when current medications fail, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology, held from March 26 to 31 in Chicago.

Marc R. Sapoval, MD, PhD, of the Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou in Paris, and colleagues randomized 106 patients with uncontrolled hypertension, despite receiving at least three antihypertensive medications, to RDN or oral treatment (control).

After six months of follow-up, the investigators found that systolic pressure fell an average of 32 mm Hg and diastolic pressure fell an average of 12 mm Hg among those who underwent RDN. The investigators are currently expanding the initial cohort to a multicenter randomized controlled trial at 24 international sites. The researchers note that endovascular RDN may also have applicability in disease states such as heart failure, cardio-renal syndrome, hepato-renal syndrome, insulin resistance-metabolic syndrome, and the prevention of progression of chronic kidney disease and hypertension in end-stage renal disease.

"Renal denervation, a minimally invasive, effective treatment, appears to be safe in the short term with a low incidence of local complications. Its efficacy to lower blood pressure in patients with resistant high blood pressure will be better evaluated with the results of a subsequent trial," Sapoval said in a statement. "After six months, 39 percent of patients receiving the endovascular denervation treatment had reached the recommended blood pressure level and, overall, 50 percent of patients showed a measurable benefit of the intervention."

The study was funded by the catheter and specific generator manufacturer.

More Information

Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.