Arterial Stiffness as a Predictor of Response to Renal Sympathetic Denervation

Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness as a Predictor of Response to Renal Sympathetic Denervation

This trial is designed to establish invasive and non-invasive measures of arterial stiffness as potential predictors of treatment response to renal sympathetic denervation

Regardless of the ongoing debate on the general effect of renal sympathetic denervation in therapy resistant hypertension, all trials published so far face the problem of a certain proportion of nonresponders to treatment. Previous data shows, that to some extent this might be attributable to arterial stiffening. Elevated invasive pulse wave velocity as an established marker for arterial stiffness has been found to be associated with nonresponse to renal denervation treatment in a smaller trial population. This trial attempts to assess the predictive value of different invasive and non-invasive markers for arterial stiffness in an adequately powered population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with therapy resistant arterial hypertension (>=3 antihypertensive drugs including at least one diuretic without any dosage change in the preceding 4 weeks) and office BP >160 mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic

Exclusion Criteria:

• average systolic daytime BP <135 mmHg in 24h ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM)
• pregnancy
• known renal artery stenosis
• >= 1 renal artery diameter < 4 mm
• life expectancy <6 months
• participation in any other clinical trial