Evaluation of Transcatheter Alcohol-Mediated Perivascular Renal Denervation to Treat Resistant Hypertension

Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) has been investigated for hypertension (HTN) treatment with variable success. One of the novel approaches to RDN is the delivery of micro-doses of dehydrated alcohol to the adventitial space of the renal artery to perform perivascular ablation of the sympathetic nerves. We sought to assess the safety and efficiency of transcatheter alcohol-mediated perivascular renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension. Fifty adult patients who had been referred for resistant HTN were screened. To qualify for the study, the patients had to have a mean 24 h systolic pressure >= 135 mmHg based upon ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and acceptable renal artery anatomy confirmed by the contrast computer tomography (AngioCT) and nephrologist consultation. Ten patients were eligible for chemical RND. There were no safety issues throughout the 24 months of follow-ups. The mean decrease in the office BP (OBP) was significant during 24 months of follow-up (p< 0.01). The difference in the BP in the ABPM was statistically significant in the 1st, 3rd and 12th months (p< 0.01), whereas during the 3-month follow-up, a trend was observed. The modifications of anti-hypertension drugs throughout the follow-up period were minimal. This study has shown that transcatheter alcohol-mediated renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension is feasible and safe. Nevertheless, it is a hypothesis-generating study.