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Renal denervation (RDN) decreases blood pressure (BP) in some patients with resistant hypertension. Little is known about the mechanisms through which the BP fall is achieved. It is thought that decreased afferent renal input to the brainstem results in a fall in central sympathetic outflow. We hypothesised that sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity (sBRS) would improve following RDN.

We studied seven patients with resistant hypertension (clinic systolic BP>140/90 mm Hg, on ≥3 anti-hypertensive medications). Body mass index remained stable throughout. Patient demographics are in Table 1.

Medications were unchanged post-RDN, except for two patients. One patient, with no BP response post-RDN, had anti-hypertensive medications increased. Another patient was symptomatic with a marked BP improvement post-RDN, and his medication was reduced. The change in medication did not …