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In many studies, renal denervation (RDN) — catheter-mediated ablation of renal sympathetic nerves — has lowered blood pressure (BP) in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. But the duration of this effect and the long-term safety of RDN remain unknown.
In an uncontrolled, manufacturer-funded, proof-of-concept study published in 2009 (NEJM JW Cardiol Mar 30 2009), 150 patients with treatment-resistant hypertension (systolic BP, ≥160 mm Hg despite optimized treatment with ≥3 antihypertensive agents) experienced rapid and persistent reductions in BP from a mean of 175/98 mm Hg at baseline to 149/84 mm Hg at 1 year after RDN.
In a new report, researchers present additional data on 88 of these patients who agreed to extended follow-up. B…