title: [Renal denervation in the treatment of hypertension].
abstract: Therapy resistant hypertension is common in hypertensive patients. The kidneys play an important role in the sympathetic nervous system overactivity associated with hypertension. Percutaneous transluminal ablation of renal nerves is a novel treatment strategy for resistant hypertension decreasing both renal and systemic sympathetic activity. Renal denervation resulted in significant blood pressure reduction within 6 months in a multicentre, prospective, randomized trial. The treatment has proved safe and blood pressure reduction appears sustained up to 2 years. It also improves glycemic control. Further studies are needed to evaluate the mortality and morbidity impact of this promising therapy of resistant hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Helsinki Hypertension Centre of Excellence, Biomedicum Helsinki.
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lappalainen
mesh_terms: D003714:Denervation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000601:surgery*; D007668:Kidney / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome