Long-term safety and efficacy of renal sympathetic denervation in atrial fibrillation: 3-year results of the AFFORD study

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia which has been associated with increased sympathetic nervous system activity and hypertension. Recent evidence indicated that renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) could safely contribute to an improvement in AF burden.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of radiofrequency RDN in hypertensive patients with symptomatic AF.

METHODS

This pilot study included patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF (European Hearth Rhythm Association class ≥ II) despite optimal medical therapy, office systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140 mmHg and ≥ 2 antihypertensive drugs. AF burden was measured using an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM), implanted 3 months prior to RDN. ICM interrogation and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring were performed at baseline and at 3/6/12/24/36 months post RDN. The primary efficacy outcome was daily AF burden. Statistical analyses were performed using Poisson and negative binomial models.

RESULTS

A total of 20 patients with a median age [25th-75th percentiles] of 66.2 [61.2-70.8] years (55% female) were included. At baseline, office BP ± standard deviation (SD) was 153.8/87.5 ± 15.2/10.4 mmHg, while mean 24-h ambulatory BP was 129.5/77.3 ± 15.5/9.3 mmHg. Baseline daily AF burden was 1.4 [0.0-10.9] minutes/day and throughout a 3-year follow-up period, no significant change was observed (- 15.4%/year; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 50.2%, + 43.7%; p = 0.54). The number of defined daily doses of antiarrhythmic drugs and antihypertensive drugs remained stable over time, while mean 24-h ambulatory systolic BP decreased with - 2.2 (95% CI - 3.9, - 0.6; p = 0.01) mmHg/year.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with hypertension and symptomatic AF, stand-alone RDN reduced BP but did not significantly reduce AF burden up until 3 years of follow-up.

Association between renal sympathetic denervation and arterial stiffness: the ASORAS study

OBJECTIVES

Renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) reduces blood pressure (BP). However, one out of three patients does not exhibit a significant BP response to the therapy. This study investigates the association between noninvasive vascular stiffness indices and RDN-mediated BP reduction.

METHODS

In this prospective, single-arm pilot study, patients with systolic office BP at least 140 mmHg, mean 24-h systolic ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) at least 130 mmHg and at least three prescribed antihypertensive drugs underwent radiofrequency RDN. The primary efficacy endpoint was temporal evolution of mean 24-h systolic ABP throughout 1-year post RDN (measured at baseline and 3-6-12 months). Effect modification was studied for baseline ultrasound carotid-femoral and magnetic resonance (MR) pulse wave velocity (PWV), MR aortic distensibility, cardiac MR left ventricular parameters and clinical variables. Statistical analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects models, and effect modification was assessed using interaction terms.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (mean age 62.5 ± 10.7 years, 50% women) with mean 24-h ABP 146.7/80.8 ± 13.7/12.0 mmHg were enrolled. Following RDN, mean 24-h systolic ABP changed with -8.4 (95% CI: -14.5 to -2.3) mmHg/year ( P  = 0.007). Independent effect modifiers were CF-PWV [+2.7 (0.3 to 5.1) mmHg/year change in outcome for every m/s increase in CF-PWV; P  = 0.03], daytime diastolic ABP [-0.4 (-0.8 to 0.0) mmHg/year per mmHg; P  = 0.03], age [+0.6 (0.2 to 1.0) mmHg/year per year of age; P  = 0.006], female sex [-14.0 (-23.1 to -5.0) mmHg/year as compared with men; P  = 0.003] and BMI [+1.2 (0.1 to 2.2) mmHg/year per kg/m 2 ; P  = 0.04].

CONCLUSION

Higher CF-PWV at baseline was associated with a smaller reduction in systolic ABP following RDN. These findings could contribute to improve identification of RDN responders.

Effects of Renal Denervation vs Sham in Resistant Hypertension After Medication Escalation: Prespecified Analysis at 6 Months of the RADIANCE-HTN TRIO Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Although early trials of endovascular renal denervation (RDN) for patients with resistant hypertension (RHTN) reported inconsistent results, ultrasound RDN (uRDN) was found to decrease blood pressure (BP) vs sham at 2 months in patients with RHTN taking stable background medications in the Study of the ReCor Medical Paradise System in Clinical Hypertension (RADIANCE-HTN TRIO) trial.

Objectives

To report the prespecified analysis of the persistence of the BP effects and safety of uRDN vs sham at 6 months in conjunction with escalating antihypertensive medications.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized, sham-controlled, clinical trial with outcome assessors and patients blinded to treatment assignment, enrolled patients from March 11, 2016, to March 13, 2020. This was an international, multicenter study conducted in the US and Europe. Participants with daytime ambulatory BP of 135/85 mm Hg or higher after 4 weeks of single-pill triple-combination treatment (angiotensin-receptor blocker, calcium channel blocker, and thiazide diuretic) with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 40 mL/min/1.73 m2 or greater were randomly assigned to uRDN or sham with medications unchanged through 2 months. From 2 to 5 months, if monthly home BP was 135/85 mm Hg or higher, standardized stepped-care antihypertensive treatment starting with aldosterone antagonists was initiated under blinding to treatment assignment.

Interventions

uRDN vs sham procedure in conjunction with added medications to target BP control.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Six-month change in medications, change in daytime ambulatory systolic BP, change in home systolic BP adjusted for baseline BP and medications, and safety.

Results

A total of 65 of 69 participants in the uRDN group and 64 of 67 participants in the sham group (mean [SD] age, 52.4 [8.3] years; 104 male [80.6%]) with a mean (SD) eGFR of 81.5 (22.8) mL/min/1.73 m2 had 6-month daytime ambulatory BP measurements. Fewer medications were added in the uRDN group (mean [SD], 0.7 [1.0] medications) vs sham (mean [SD], 1.1 [1.1] medications; P = .045) and fewer patients in the uRDN group received aldosterone antagonists at 6 months (26 of 65 [40.0%] vs 39 of 64 [60.9%]; P = .02). Despite less intensive standardized stepped-care antihypertensive treatment, mean (SD) daytime ambulatory BP at 6 months was 138.3 (15.1) mm Hg with uRDN vs 139.0 (14.3) mm Hg with sham (additional decreases of -2.4 [16.6] vs -7.0 [16.7] mm Hg from month 2, respectively), whereas home SBP was lowered to a greater extent with uRDN by 4.3 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.5-8.1 mm Hg; P = .03) in a mixed model adjusting for baseline and number of medications. Adverse events were infrequent and similar between groups.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, in patients with RHTN initially randomly assigned to uRDN or a sham procedure and who had persistent elevation of BP at 2 months after the procedure, standardized stepped-care antihypertensive treatment escalation resulted in similar BP reduction in both groups at 6 months, with fewer additional medications required in the uRDN group.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02649426.

Long-term follow-up of patients undergoing renal sympathetic denervation

OBJECTIVES

Renal denervation (RDN) proved to significantly lower blood pressure (BP) at 2-6 months in patients on and off antihypertensive drugs. Given a lack of longer-term follow-up data, our aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of RDN up to five years taking into account antihypertensive drug regimen changes over time.

METHODS

In the present single-center study, patients underwent RDN for (therapy resistant) hypertension. Patients underwent protocolized yearly follow-up out to five years. Data were collected on 24-h ambulatory BP and office BP monitoring, renal function, antihypertensive drug regimen, and safety events, including non-invasive renal artery imaging at 6/12 months. Efficacy analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients with mean age 63.3 ± 9.5 (SD) years (51% female) were included. Median follow-up time was 3.5 years and Clark's Completeness Index was 72%. Baseline ambulatory daytime BP was 146.1/83.7 ± 17.4/12.2 mmHg under a mean number of 4.9 ± 2.7 defined daily doses (DDD). At five years, ambulatory daytime systolic BP as calculated from the mixed model was 120.8 (95% CI 114.2-127.5) mmHg and diastolic BP was 73.3 (95% CI 69.4-77.3) mmHg, implying a reduction of -20.9/-8.3 mmHg as compared to baseline estimates (p < 0.0001). The number of DDDs remained stable over time (p = 0.87). No procedure-related major adverse events resulting in long-term consequences were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The BP-lowering effect of RDN was safely maintained at least five years post-procedure as reflected by a significant decrease in ambulatory daytime BP in the absence of escalating antihypertensive drug therapy over time.

Endovascular renal sympathetic denervation to improve heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: the IMPROVE-HF-I study

Introduction

The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods

We randomly assigned 50 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% and NYHA class ≥ II, in a 1:1 ratio, to either RDN and optimal medical therapy (OMT) or OMT alone. The primary safety endpoint was the occurrence of a combined endpoint of cardiovascular death, rehospitalisation for heart failure, and acute kidney injury at 6 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in iodine-123 meta-iodobenzylguanidine (¹²³I‑MIBG) heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) at 6 months.

Results

Mean age was 60 ± 9 years, 86% was male and mean LVEF was 33 ± 8%. At 6 months, the primary safety endpoint occurred in 8.3% vs 8.0% in the RDN and OMT groups, respectively (p = 0.97). At 6 months, the mean change in late HMR was −0.02 (95% CI: −0.08 to 0.12) in the RDN group, versus −0.02 (95% CI: −0.09 to 0.12) in the OMT group (p = 0.95) whereas the mean change in washout rate was 2.34 (95% CI: −6.35 to 1.67) in the RDN group versus −2.59 (95% CI: −1.61 to 6.79) in the OMT group (p-value 0.09).

Conclusion

RDN with the Vessix system in patients with HFrEF was safe, but did not result in significant changes in cardiac sympathetic nerve activity at 6 months as measured using ¹²³I‑MIBG.

Supplementary Information

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12471-021-01633-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of renal denervation on catecholamines and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

Introduction:

The effect of renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) on neurohormonal responses is largely unknown. We aimed to assess the effect of RDN on the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) and endogenous catecholamines.

Methods:

A total of 60 patients with hypertension underwent RDN and remained on a stable antihypertensive drug regimen. Samples for plasma aldosterone, plasma renin and urine (nor)metanephrine were collected at baseline and at 6 months post procedure. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) recordings were obtained at baseline and at 6 months post procedure.

Results:

Mean age was 64±9 years, and 30/60 patients were male. At 6 months, average daytime systolic and diastolic ambulatory BP decreased by 10 and 6 mmHg, respectively (p<0.001). No significant change was observed in plasma aldosterone (median=248.0 pmol/L (interquartile range (IQR) 113.3–369.5 pmol/L) vs. median=233.0 pmol/L (IQR 110.3–360.8 pmol/L); p=0.66); renin (median=19.5 µIU/mL (IQR 6.8–119.5 µIU/mL) vs. median=14.3 µIU/mL (IQR 7.2–58.0 µIU/mL); p=0.32), urine metanephrine (median=0.46 µmol/L (IQR 0.24–0.77 µmol/L) vs. median=0.46 µmol/L (IQR 0.22–0.88 µmol/L); p=0.75) and normetanephrine (median=1.41 µmol/L (IQR 0.93–2.00 µmol/L vs. median =1.56 (IQR 0.74–2.50 µmol/L); p=0.58) between baseline and 6 months, respectively. No correlation was found between the decrease in mean systolic daytime BP and changes in RAAS hormones or endogenous catecholamines.

Conclusion:

Despite significant reductions in ambulatory BP, RDN did not result in a significant change in endogenous catecholamines or in RAAS hormones at 6 months.

Renal sympathetic denervation in patients with vasospastic angina

BACKGROUND

Sympathetic overactivity has been linked to vasospastic angina (VSA), although the exact pathophysiology of VSA is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to assess if renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) reduces cardiac sympathetic nerve activity with a subsequent beneficial effect on angina relief in patients with refractory VSA.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cardiac sympathetic nerve activity was assessed prior to procedure and at 6 months post-procedure using iodine-123 labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) imaging. The Seattle Angina questionnaire (SAQ) was used to assess the degree to which the disease impacts quality of life. No significant change was observed in early HMR (pre-RDN: 2.74 [2.10 to 3.21] vs 6 months post-RDN: 2.57 [2.20 to 3.00]; P = 0.76), and late HMR (pre-RDN: 2.56 [2.18 to 3.20] vs 6 months post-RDN: 2.36 [2.13 to 3.22]; P = 0.22). Additionally, no change was seen in WR (P = 0.22). SAQ results revealed significant improvements in perceived physical limitation, angina frequency, and quality of life at 6 months (P < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION

RDN resulted in improvements in angina class and quality of life at 6 months in patients with refractory VSA. RDN, however, did not result in significant changes in cardiac sympathetic nerve activity as measured using 123I-MIBG. The latter observation should be considered with caution given the small sample size of this study. Larger studies are needed to assess this further.

Using social media to recruit study participants for a randomized trial for hypertension

Aims

The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of social media as an approach to recruit hypertensive subjects.

Methods and results

In addition to conventional trial recruitment, Facebook ads were run. Over a 115-day recruitment period, Facebook reached 5.3 million people in 168 separate campaigns run in the proximity of 19 sites in the USA and 14 sites in Europe. A total of 182 839 participants (3.4%) clicked on the ad; of those 10 483 subjects (5.7%) completed a dedicated questionnaire. This resulted in 3632 potential candidates. A total of 285 potential candidates were recruited by various recruitment strategies in the specified time period, of which 184/285 (64.6%) came from Facebook. When comparing Facebook with a 7-day radio spot in the same time period, 48 radio spots were launched; resulting in nine inquiries with eventually five potential candidates and two consents.

Conclusion

Targeted social media was a successful and efficient strategy to recruit hypertensive subjects.

Local myocardial stiffness variations identified by high frame rate shear wave echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Shear waves are generated by the closure of the heart valves. Significant differences in shear wave velocity have been found recently between normal myocardium and disease models of diffusely increased muscle stiffness. In this study we correlate in vivo myocardial shear wave imaging (SWI) with presence of scarred tissue, as model for local increase of stiffness. Stiffness variation is hypothesized to appear as velocity variation.

METHODS

Ten healthy volunteers (group 1), 10 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients without any cardiac intervention (group 2), and 10 HCM patients with prior septal reduction therapy (group 3) underwent high frame rate tissue Doppler echocardiography. The SW in the interventricular septum after aortic valve closure was mapped along two M-mode lines, in the inner and outer layer.

RESULTS

We compared SWI to 3D echocardiography and strain imaging. In groups 1 and 2, no change in velocity was detected. In group 3, 8/10 patients showed a variation in SW velocity. All three patients having transmural scar showed a simultaneous velocity variation in both layers. Out of six patients with endocardial scar, five showed variations in the inner layer.

CONCLUSION

Local variations in stiffness, with myocardial remodeling post septal reduction therapy as model, can be detected by a local variation in the propagation velocity of naturally occurring shear waves.

Clinical Applicability of Monitoring Antihypertensive Drug Levels in Blood

Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis is a novel analytical method for therapeutic drug monitoring to identify nonadherence to antihypertensive drugs. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical applicability of measuring drug concentrations of 8 antihypertensive drugs, using DBS and venipuncture. Furthermore, this study aimed to provide more insight into the between-patient variability in drug concentrations. False-negative values from DBS compared with a venipuncture were determined to assess drug adherence. A generalized estimating equation was used to estimate the model parameters, including sex, dose, age, weight, and the time interval, between drug intake and sampling, on the C_plasma (drug concentration in plasma). No false-negative values were found when measuring nonadherence using DBS compared with venipuncture. A high variability in C_plasma between patients was observed, especially at peak concentrations with a fold change reaching from 2.3 to 35.2. The time of intake was significantly related to the height of the C_plasma in 7 of the 8 measured drugs with a P<0.05, but the influence of dose, weight, age, and sex on drug levels differed largely between the measured drugs. DBS is a reliable and convenient method to assess nonadherence to antihypertensive drugs in clinical practice. The C_plasma of the 8 antihypertensive drugs in this study show a large interindividual difference, and therefore, low plasma concentrations do not necessarily mean nonadherence. Nonadherence can only be confirmed if drug levels are undetectable, that is, values below the lower limit of detection.

Diagnostic and (new) therapeutic options for resistant hypertension: a short review

Hypertension is a major risk factor for ischaemic heart disease and stroke. Despite the availability of numerous pharmacological treatment options, blood pressure (BP) targets are often not achieved. The inability to reach BP levels below 140/90 mmHg despite the use of three or more antihypertensive drugs is defined as resistant hypertension (RH). The etiology for RH is multifactorial. First, BP should be appropriately measured. In order to improve BP control, lifestyle modification should be recommended, adherence should be carefully assessed to exclude pseudo-resistance, and efforts should be made to exclude secondary causes of hypertension before initiating new drugs or considering device-based treatment strategies. This short review will highlight several aspects of RH management along with a focus on several new treatment options. act available.

Acute calcium channel blocker withdrawal-induced cardiac arrest

Acute withdrawal of calcium channel blockers can lead to the so-called calcium channel blocker withdrawal phenomenon, in particular, when high dosages are used. In the case presented, inadequate drug substitution led to this phenomenon which resulted in a serious course of events. Careful monitoring the process of drug substitution with respect to equal therapeutic dosages is therefore a necessity, especially in vulnerable patients.

Six-Month Results of Treatment-Blinded Medication Titration for Hypertension Control After Randomization to Endovascular Ultrasound Renal Denervation or a Sham Procedure in the RADIANCE-HTN SOLO Trial

BACKGROUND

The multicenter, international, randomized, blinded, sham-controlled RADIANCE-HTN SOLO trial (A Study of the ReCor Medical Paradise System in Clinical Hypertension) demonstrated a 6.3 mm Hg greater reduction in daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure (BP) at 2 months by endovascular ultrasound renal denervation (RDN) compared with a sham procedure among patients not treated with antihypertensive medications. We report 6-month results after the addition of a recommended standardized stepped-care antihypertensive treatment to the randomized endovascular procedure under continued blinding to initial treatment.

METHODS

Patients with a daytime ambulatory BP ≥135/85 mm Hg and <170/105 mm Hg after a 4-week discontinuation of up to 2 antihypertensive medications, and a suitable renal artery anatomy, were randomized to RDN (n=74) or sham (n=72). Patients were to remain off antihypertensive medications throughout the first 2 months of follow-up unless safety BP criteria were exceeded. Between 2 and 5 months, if monthly measured home BP was ≥135/85 mm Hg, a standardized stepped-care antihypertensive treatment was recommended consisting of the sequential addition of amlodipine (5 mg/d), a standard dose of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, and hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg/d), followed by the sequential uptitration of hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/d) and amlodipine (10 mg/d). Outcomes included the 6-month (1) change in daytime ambulatory systolic BP adjusted for medications and baseline systolic BP, (2) medication burden, and (3) safety.

RESULTS

A total of 69/74 RDN patients and 71/72 sham patients completed the 6-month ambulatory BP measurement. At 6 months, 65.2% of patients in the RDN group were treated with the standardized stepped-care antihypertensive treatment versus 84.5% in the sham group (P=0.008), and the average number of antihypertensive medications and defined daily dose were less in the RDN group than in the sham group (0.9±0.9 versus 1.3±0.9, P=0.010 and 1.4±1.5 versus 2.0±1.8, P=0.018; respectively). Despite less intensive standardized stepped-care antihypertensive treatment, RDN reduced daytime ambulatory systolic BP to a greater extent than sham (-18.1±12.2 versus -15.6±13.2 mm Hg, respectively; difference adjusted for baseline BP and number of medications: -4.3 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval, -7.9 to -0.6, P=0.024). There were no major adverse events in either group through 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The BP-lowering effect of endovascular ultrasound RDN was maintained at 6 months with less prescribed antihypertensive medications compared with a sham control.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov. Unique identifier: NCT02649426.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations in the treatment of the elderly patient with hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension is an important risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases. It is more prevalent in the elderly population. Recently updated American and European guidelines recommend treating every elderly patient with hypertension independent of age, starting with a low dose of antihypertensive drugs. However, little information is available on the optimal dosages of antihypertensive drugs to treat the elderly safely. Areas covered: Comorbidities, co-medication and frailty status can alter the clinical outcome of drug treatment and can cause adverse events in the elderly. Also, due to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes the interpatient variability when using antihypertensive drugs is considerable. In this review, an overview is given on the extent to which the previously mentioned parameters are changed in elderly patients and what this means for the exposure to antihypertensive medication. Also, recommendations on the starting dose of the most frequently used antihypertensive drugs are given based on literature data. Expert opinion: We believe that recommendations on starting dosages followed by a stepwise increase of dosages will lead to improved blood pressure control and less adverse drug reactions in the elderly patient. This may improve adherence to antihypertensive therapy.

Prevalence and consequences of noncardiac incidental findings on preprocedural imaging in the workup for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, renal sympathetic denervation, or MitraClip implantation

BACKGROUND

Dedicated data on the prevalence of incidental findings (IF) stratified according to overall clinical relevance and their subsequent correlation to outcome are lacking. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence and consequences of noncardiac IF on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in the workup for interventional cardiovascular procedures.

METHODS

A total of 916 patients underwent preprocedural computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in the workup for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), renal sympathetic denervation (RDN), or MitraClip implantation.

RESULTS

IF were found in 395 of 916 patients (43.1%), with an average of 1.8 IF per patient. Classifying the IF resulted in 155 patients with minor, 171 patients with moderate, and 69 patients with major IF. The intended procedure was delayed or canceled in only 15 of 916 (1.6%) of the patients because of the presence of potential malignant IF. In patients that did undergo the intended procedure (n = 774), the presence of a moderate or major IF (23.8%) did not impact 1-year mortality compared to no or minor IF (adjusted HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.56-1.44, P value = .65). These findings were consistent among patients referred for TAVI, RDN, or MitraClip.

CONCLUSIONS

IF are frequent in patients referred for cardiovascular procedures. IF did not result in a delay or cancellation of the intended procedure in the vast majority of cases, irrespective of their clinical relevance. The presence of a major or moderate IF did not significantly impact 1-year mortality.

Endovascular ultrasound renal denervation to treat hypertension (RADIANCE-HTN SOLO): a multicentre, international, single-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Early studies suggest that radiofrequency-based renal denervation reduces blood pressure in patients with moderate hypertension. We investigated whether an alternative technology using endovascular ultrasound renal denervation reduces ambulatory blood pressure in patients with hypertension in the absence of antihypertensive medications.

METHODS

RADIANCE-HTN SOLO was a multicentre, international, single-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial done at 21 centres in the USA and 18 in Europe. Patients with combined systolic-diastolic hypertension aged 18-75 years were eligible if they had ambulatory blood pressure greater than or equal to 135/85 mm Hg and less than 170/105 mm Hg after a 4-week discontinuation of up to two antihypertensive medications and had suitable renal artery anatomy. Patients were randomised (1:1) to undergo renal denervation with the Paradise system (ReCor Medical, Palo Alto, CA, USA) or a sham procedure consisting of renal angiography only. The randomisation sequence was computer generated and stratified by centres with randomised blocks of four or six and permutation of treatments within each block. Patients and outcome assessors were blinded to randomisation. The primary effectiveness endpoint was the change in daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure at 2 months in the intention-to-treat population. Patients were to remain off antihypertensive medications throughout the 2 months of follow-up unless specified blood pressure criteria were exceeded. Major adverse events included all-cause mortality, renal failure, an embolic event with end-organ damage, renal artery or other major vascular complications requiring intervention, or admission to hospital for hypertensive crisis within 30 days and new renal artery stenosis within 6 months. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02649426.

FINDINGS

Between March 28, 2016, and Dec 28, 2017, 803 patients were screened for eligibility and 146 were randomised to undergo renal denervation (n=74) or a sham procedure (n=72). The reduction in daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure was greater with renal denervation (-8·5 mm Hg, SD 9·3) than with the sham procedure (-2·2 mm Hg, SD 10·0; baseline-adjusted difference between groups: -6·3 mm Hg, 95% CI -9·4 to -3·1, p=0·0001). No major adverse events were reported in either group.

INTERPRETATION

Compared with a sham procedure, endovascular ultrasound renal denervation reduced ambulatory blood pressure at 2 months in patients with combined systolic-diastolic hypertension in the absence of medications.

FUNDING

ReCor Medical.

Effect of catheter-based renal denervation on left ventricular function, mass and (un)twist with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography

Background

Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is an echocardiography modality that is able to measure left ventricular (LV) characteristics, including rotation, strain and strain rate. Strain measures myocardial fibre contraction and relaxation. This study aims to assess the effect of renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) on functional myocardial parameters, including STE, and to identify potential differences between responders and non-responders.

Methods

The study population consisted of 31 consecutive patients undergoing RDN in the context of treatment for resistant hypertension. Patients were included between December 2012 and June 2014. Transthoracic echocardiography and speckle tracking analysis was performed at baseline and at 6 months follow-up.

Results

The study population consisted of 31 patients with treatment-resistant hypertension treated with RDN (mean age 64 ± 10 years, 15 men). The total study population could be divided into responders (n = 19) and non-responders (n = 12) following RDN. RDN reduced office blood pressure by 18.9 ± 26.8/8.5 ± 13.5 mmHg (p < 0.001). A significant decrease was seen in LV posterior wall thickness (LVPWd) (0.47 ± 1.0 mm; p = 0.020), without a significant change in the LV mass index (LVMI). In the total cohort, only peak late diastolic filling velocity (A-wave velocity) decreased significantly by 5.3 ± 13.2 cm/s (p = 0.044) and peak untwisting velocity decreased significantly by 14.5 ± 28.9°/s (p = 0.025).

Conclusion

RDN reduced blood pressure and significantly improved functional myocardial parameters such as A-wave velocity and peak untwisting velocity in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, suggesting a potential beneficial effect of RDN on myocardial mechanics.

Redo renal denervation using a multi-electrode radiofrequency system in patients with persistent therapy-resistant hypertension

Objectives

Renal sympathetic denervation has been studied as a potential therapeutic option for patients with therapy-resistant hypertension; however, a significant proportion of patients do not show a significant reduction in blood pressure and are classified as non-responders. The objective of the present study was to assess whether a redo renal denervation procedure increases response rates.

Methods

We present a case series of three consecutive renal denervation non-responders treated with the multi-electrode radiofrequency St. Jude EnligHTN catheter after an average of 22 months. Patients were followed for 6 months.

Results

Mean age was 66 years and two patients were male. Patients were previously treated using either ReCor’s Paradise system, the Vessix V2 system or the Covidien OneShot system. Mean office blood pressure one year after the initial procedure was 187/102 mm Hg with a mean 24 h ambulatory blood pressure of 166/102 mm Hg. All patients underwent a successful redo procedure using the EnligHTN system because of persistent therapy-resistant hypertension. At 6 months a significant drop in both office and ambulatory blood pressure of −27/−6 mm Hg and −15/−13 mm Hg, respectively, was observed. No significant renal artery stenosis was observed at 6 months.

Conclusions

In patients with therapy-resistant hypertension who do not respond to an initial renal denervation procedure, a redo procedure using the St. Jude EnligHTN system may help to significantly improve blood pressure control.