Researchers have found that directing short bursts of radio waves at nerves surrounding the kidneys can lower blood pressure, for up to one year, in patients with hypertension which has not responded to medication.
The findings could have significant public health implications in the treatment of resistant hypertension, a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, according to Murray Esler, professor and senior director of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia. Prof. Esler and his team found that more than 83% of the initial renal denervation treatment group experienced a drop in systolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg at six months, while nearly 79% of the group maintained such reductions at 12 months. “Studies will soon determine whether this procedure can cure mild hypertension, producing permanent drug-free normalisation of blood pressure,” Prof Esler commented. “Based on the blood pressure declines achieved, reduction in heart attack and stroke rates of more than 40% is anticipated.” The results of the Symplicity HTN-2 study were published in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation. Medtronic Ardian, LLC, funded the study.
