Orthostatic function after renal sympathetic denervation in patients with resistant hypertension

Abstract Introduction Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) reduces local and whole-body sympathetic activity and blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant hypertension. However, safety concerns exist concerning the development of orthostatic dysfunction after RDN. Methods and results In 36 patients (65±7.6years, 75% male) with resistant hypertension (office BP 162±24/91±14mmHg) treated with 4.8±1.7 antihypertensive drugs, tilt table testing (TTT) was performed before and three months after RDN. Response to RDN was defined as a reduction in office systolic BP (SBP) ≥10mmHg three months after RDN. Responders (n=26; 72.2%) and non-responders (n=10; 27.8%) were evaluated separately. After RDN, office SBP and diastolic BP (DBP) were reduced by 29±6.2/14±3.6mmHg (p Conclusions In patients with resistant hypertension, RDN reduced office BP, supine BP and HR during TTT without causing orthostatic dysfunction or (pre-)syncopes three months after treatment.