Procedure helps those with hypertension

CHICAGO, March 28 (UPI) -- A procedure that uses a catheter-based probe inserted into the renal artery to deactivate the nerves helps those with hypertension, French researchers say.

Dr. Marc R. Sapoval, a professor of clinical radiology and chairman of the cardiovascular radiology department at Hopital Europeen Georges-Pompidou in Paris, says the probe inserted into the renal artery emits high-frequency energy to deactivate the nerves near the kidneys that are linked to high blood pressure.

"The renal sympathetic system, which are the small nerves that carry the signal from the brain to the kidney and back from the kidney to the brain, plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure levels. The disruption of these nerve fibers has a positive effect on blood pressure levels," Sapoval says in a statement.

"Given its impact on the central sympathetic drive, renal denervation may have applicability in additional disease states such as heart failure, cardio-renal syndrome, hepato-renal syndrome, and in the prevention of progression of chronic kidney disease and hypertension in end-stage renal disease."

The study involved 106 adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension, who received either oral medication or the renal denervation treatment.

Six months later, the systolic pressure (the top number in a blood pressure measurement) fell an average of 32 millimeters of mercury and diastolic pressure (the smaller number in a blood pressure reading) fell an average of 12 mmHg.

The findings were presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 36th annual scientific meeting in Chicago.