Renal denervation with standard radiofrequency ablation catheter is effective in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure reduction – follow-up at 1/3/6/12 months

AIMS: To examine the effect of renal denervation (RDN) on 24‑h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) with a standard radiofrequency ablation catheter (RF catheter). METHODS: Seventy-five patients with resistant hypertension received bilateral RDN with an RF catheter (6 RF applications, 1 minute each, 8–12 watts). Seventy patients fulfilled inclusion criteria with mean systolic ABP ≥140 mmHg (mean 165/89) despite treatment with ≥3 antihypertensive drugs (mean 5.9) including a diuretic, and were further analysed for ABP changes. Follow-up at 1/3/6/12 months comprised biochemical evaluations and ABP measurement. At 6/12 months, duplex sonography of the renal arteries was additionally performed. RESULTS: At 1/3/6/12 months we observed a significant reduction in systolic ABP of −15/−17/−18/−15 mmHg (n = 55/53/57/50; non-parametric Friedman test, p < 0.001) and diastolic ABP of −6/−9/−10/−7 mmHg (p < 0.001). Of the patients, 70 %/64 % showed a systolic ABP reduction of ≥10 mmHg, and 77 %/70 % of ≥5 mmHg at 6/12-month follow-up. Two patients (2.7 %) developed renal artery stenosis (>70 %) with subsequent stenting without complications. Logistic regression analysis with systolic ABP reduction ≥10 mmHg at 12 months follow-up as criterion revealed that only the mean baseline systolic ABP was significant, OR = 2.174. CONCLUSIONS: RDN with a standard RF catheter can be used safely to reduce mean ABP in resistant hypertension as shown in long-term follow-up.