Why the study?
Does electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus reduce blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension?
Does electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus reduce blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension?
Electrical baroreflex stimulation may serve as a safe and effective adjunct to medical therapy for patients with resistant hypertension.
May support baroreflex activation for resistant hypertension; leaves open long-term efficacy pending randomized trials.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: It is not uncommon for hypertension to be resistant to the effects of medical therapy, and this poses a significant risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus is a novel treatment for hypertension, and has been shown to reduce blood pressure by activating the baroreflex and reducing sympathetic tone. RECENT FINDINGS: Evidence suggests that the baroreceptors play a more important role in long-term blood pressure regulation than was once believed. It appears that the baroreflex attenuates chronic hypertension in large part by inhibiting renal sympathetic tone. Animal and human studies have demonstrated a safe and effective lowering of blood pressure with chronic electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus, and have generated enthusiasm for implantable carotid sinus stimulators in the treatment of hypertension. SUMMARY: Electrical baroreflex stimulation appears safe and effective, and may represent a useful adjunct to medical therapy in patients with resistant hypertension.
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Filippone et al. (2007) studied this question.