EuroIntervention : journal of EuroPCR in collaboration with the Working Group on Interventional Cardiology of the European Society of Cardiology
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The endovascular application of low-dose radiofrequency (RF) energy to the renal arteries results in effective ablation of sympathetic nerve fibres leading to a significant lowering of blood pressure (BP). This study aims to examine the feasibility and safety of renal denervation by the use of a standard electrophysiology (EP) catheter. ⋯ Our preliminary results indicate that the use of a standard RF ablation catheter is feasible and safe for sympathetic renal denervation as shown by a significant lowering of mean 24 hour ambulatory BP in comparison to baseline during short-term follow-up. Whether the use of a standard EP catheter for sympathetic renal denervation indeed improves the long-term outcome in resistant hypertension, however, remains to be investigated.