Safety and efficacy of renal sympathetic denervation: a 9-year long-term follow-up of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements

Background: Renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) has been shown to lower arterial blood pressure both in the presence and in the absence of antihypertensive medication in an observation period of up to 3 years. However, long-term results beyond 3 years are scarcely reported. Methods: We performed a long-term follow-up on patients who were previously enrolled in a local renal denervation registry and who underwent radiofrequency RDN with the Symplicity Flex® renal denervation system between 2011 and 2014. The patients were assessed to evaluate their renal function by performing 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM), recording their medical history, and conducting laboratory tests. Conclusions: RDN was accompanied by a long-lasting reduction in blood pressure with a concomitant reduction in antihypertensive medication. No negative effects could be detected, especially with regard to renal function.