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Methods

Patients with a clinic blood pressure (cBP) of> 160 mm Hg despite taking≥ 3 antihypertensive medications were identified from a specialist hypertension clinic in the South-West of England as eligible for RDN. Prior to treatment secondary causes of hypertension were excluded and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) performed to ensure suitable renal artery anatomy. RDN was performed under conscious sedation using a Symplicity (Medtronic) ablation catheter. Patients reviewed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post RDN with measurement of cBP and renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR). MRA was repeated 6 months to assess for development of renal artery stenosis.

Results

13 patients underwent RDN with a mean of 5.6±0.2 ablations per artery (range 4-8).