Transcatheter therapies for resistant hypertension: Clinical review

Abstract

Resistant hypertension (RHTN) is a commonly encountered clinical problem and its management remains a challenging task for healthcare providers. The prevalence of true RHTN has been difficult to assess due to pseudoresistance and secondary hypertension. Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) has been associated as a secondary cause of RHTN. Initial studies had shown that angioplasty and stenting for RAS were a promising therapeutic option when added to optimal medical management. However, recent randomized controlled trials in larger populations have failed to show any such benefit. Sympathetic autonomic nervous system dysfunction is commonly noted in individuals with resistant hypertension. Surgical sympathectomy was the treatment of choice for malignant hypertension and it significantly improved mortality. However, post-surgical complications and the advent of antihypertensive drugs made this approach less desirable and it was eventually abandoned. Increasing prevalence of RHTN in recent decades has led to the emergence of minimally invasive interventions such as transcatheter renal denervation for better control of blood pressure. It is a minimally invasive procedure which uses radiofrequency energy for selective ablation of renal sympathetic nerves located in the adventitia of the renal artery. It is a quick procedure and has a short recovery time. Early studies in small population showed significant reduction in blood pressure. The most recent Symplicity HTN-3 study, which is the largest randomized control trial and the only one to use a sham procedure in controls, failed to show significant BP reduction at 6 mo.

Keywords: Resistant hypertension; Renal denervation; Renal artery stenosis; Renal artery stenting; Transcatheter therapy; Sympathetic autonomic nervous system

Core tip: The aim of this paper is to review resistant hypertension (RHTN), including primary and secondary causes. Renal artery stenosis is one of the secondary cause of RHTN but angioplasty and stenting of renal artery for management of RHTN has failed to show any benefit. Sympathetic nervous system dysfunction is commonly noted in individuals with resistant hypertension. Renal sympathetic nerve denervation is a minimally invasive procedure which may help improve management of RHTN. However, the Symplicity HTN-3 trial failed to show a meaningful reduction in BP and has questioned this approach.