Renal Denervation: A 10-Year Look into Managing Unrelenting High Blood Pressure

Think about a group of 65 people who couldn't get their high blood pressure under control, even with lots of medication. They decided to try something different: a procedure called renal denervation. This isn't a new movie plot; it's real life. These people had their blood vessels near the kidneys treated to see if it would lower their blood pressure. The study checked in with them over 10 years to see how they did. At the start, most of the people were men, around 60 years old, and taking about 4 different blood pressure medicines. Their blood pressure was very high, like 169/87 mmHg when measured in the doctor's office and 153/88 mmHg over 24 hours. After the procedure, their blood pressure dropped. A month later, it was down to 147/82 mmHg in the doctor's office and 141/83 mmHg over 24 hours. And get this, it stayed lower for the next 10 years! About half of them had their blood pressure under control a year later. This happened more often when the doctor used a newer device and when more spots were treated. Over the years, their kidney function dipped a little, but nothing serious. The procedure didn't cause any major problems. So, renal denervation can help keep blood pressure down for a long time. It works best with the newer devices and more treatment spots. It's also safe, even for the kidneys.