Renal denervation – a new possibility of non-pharmacological treatment of heart failure
CV
Renal denervation does not involve any pharmacological treatment. It is a multiple application of radiofrequency energy using a thin catheter via the femoral artery and a long-term "denervation" of the sympathetic nerves around the renal arteries. The aim of this pilot study was to compare the outcomes of patients with advanced heart failure receiving standard pharmacological treatment or renal denervation.
Transcatheter renal denervation represents a novel therapy for treating patients with treatment resistant hypertension, a condition which greatly increases the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. The Symplicity Hypertension I and II studies have suggested that this procedure significantly lowers blood pressure in these patients with few remaining options in terms of treatment.
Findings suggest that renal denervation regenerates blood vessels and could reduce cardiovascular events. Malignant arterial hypertension was historically treated with surgical thoracolumbar splanchnicectomy. In 2009 the concept of sympathectomy was reintroduced with intravasal catheter-based percutaneous renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) used in patients suffering from resistant arterial hypertension.
Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) improves anxiety, depression, quality of life and stress in patients with resistant hypertension.Arterial hypertension is often associated with several psychological comorbidities, such as anxiety and panic disorders, leading to impaired quality of life. RDN is a novel treatment option for patients with resistant hypertension and has been shown to reduce local and whole-body sympathetic activity and blood pressure.