In a nutshell
This study investigated if catheter-based renal denervation (CB-RD) can be used to lower blood pressure (BP) in patients not taking any medication for lowering BP.
They found that CB-RD reduces BP in patients not taking medications.
Some background
Hypertension or high blood pressure (BP) is a common condition. Managing BP levels is very important. Uncontrolled BP can lead to serious adverse events. These include heart attack and stroke. There are many ways to manage hypertension. Lifestyle adjustments can help lower BP. Antihypertensive (AHT) drugs can also manage BP. Another option is renal denervation (RD).
RD involves reducing the nerve supply to certain blood vessels in the kidney. These nerves control the volume of urine released from the kidneys. This also affects the amount of blood in the vessels. After RD there may be lower blood volume. This then reduces BP. Some studies suggest that RD is effective in combination with AHTs. It is unclear if RD alone can manage BP levels.
Methods & findings
This study included 331 patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Patients were randomly assigned to RD or a sham procedure. RD was performed using a catheter-based (CB-RD) method. The catheter is used to place an electrode near the renal nerve. An electrical pulse is used to reduce the nerve signal. Patients in the sham group had a catheter placed but no RD was performed. The main outcome was BP reduction.
BP reductions were significantly greater in the CB-RD group compared to sham. This was seen 3 months after the procedure. No major safety events were reported after the procedure.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that CB-RD reduces BP in patients not taking AHT medications.
The fine print
BP reductions without AHT medication were only measured at 3 months. The long-term effect of CB-RD alone is unclear. More studies are needed.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding hypertension management please consult with your doctor.
Published By :
Lancet (London, England)
Date :
Mar 30, 2020
