August 1, 2016Open Access
Unilateral Carotid Body Resection in Resistant Hypertension
Key Result
Unilateral carotid body resection was safe and feasible in 15 patients with drug-resistant hypertension, with 8 patients showing significant reductions in ambulatory blood pressure.
Structured PICO
Does unilateral carotid body resection improve blood pressure in patients with drug-resistant hypertension?
P
Population
15 patients with drug-resistant hypertension.
I
Intervention
Unilateral carotid body resection
O
Outcome
Safety, feasibility, and change in blood pressuresafety
Unilateral carotid body resection is a safe and feasible procedure that may reduce blood pressure in a specific subpopulation of patients with drug-resistant hypertension.
Abstract
Animal and human data indicate pathological afferent signaling emanating from the carotid body that drives sympathetically mediated elevations in blood pressure in conditions of hypertension. This first-in-man, proof-of-principle study tested the safety and feasibility of unilateral carotid body resection in 15 patients with drug-resistant hypertension. The procedure proved to be safe and feasible. Overall, no change in blood pressure was found. However, 8 patients showed significant reductions in ambulatory blood pressure coinciding with decreases in sympathetic activity. The carotid body may be a novel target for treating an identifiable subpopulation of humans with hypertension.