title: Neuropeptide Y as an indicator of successful alterations in sympathetic nervous activity after renal sympathetic denervation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) represents a safe and effective treatment option for certain patients with resistant hypertension and has been shown to decrease sympathetic activity. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a neurotransmitter that is co-released with norepinephrine and is up-regulated during increased sympathetic activity. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of RSD on NPY and to analyze the association between changes in NPY levels and blood pressure reduction after RSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 150 consecutive patients (age 64.9 ± 10.2 years) from three clinical centers undergoing RSD were included in this study. Response to RSD was defined as an office systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction of >10 mmHg 6 months after RSD. Venous blood samples for measurement of NPY were collected prior to and 6 months after RSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BP and NPY levels were significantly reduced by 23/9 mmHg (p = 0.001/0.001) and 0.24 mg/dL (p < 0.01) 6 months after RSD. There was a significant correlation between baseline SBP- and RSD-related systolic BP reduction (r = -0.43; p < 0.001) and between serum NPY baseline values and NPY level changes (r = -0.52; p < 0.001) at the 6-month follow-up. The BP response to RSD (>10 mmHg) was associated with a significantly greater reduction in NPY level when compared with BP non-responders (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates an effect of RSD on serum NPY levels, a specific marker for sympathetic activity. The association between RSD-related changes in SBP and NPY levels provides further evidence of the effect of RSD on the sympathetic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany. oliver.doerr@innere.med.uni-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dörr
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ewen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany.|DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Rhein-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liebetrau
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany.|DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Rhein-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Möllmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany.|DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Rhein-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Luise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaede
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Linz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hohl
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany.|DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Rhein-Main, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Troidl
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Timm
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.|Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany.|Institute of Medical Engineering and Science, Harvard-MIT Biomedical Engineering, E25-438, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mahfoud
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nef
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y
keywords: Hypertension; Procedural success; Renal sympathetic denervation