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Updated: May 27, 2026

Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion
Published on: May 26, 2022
[Expert consensus statement on interventional renal sympathetic denervation for hypertension treatment]
1Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar. felix.mahfoud@uniklinikum-saarland.de
Insights
Renal denervation effectively lowers blood pressure in resistant hypertension cases. This interventional therapy targets sympathetic nerves, offering a new option for patients with high blood pressure unresponsive to medication.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Hypertension Management
Background:
- Resistant hypertension requires advanced treatment strategies.
- Renal denervation offers a novel interventional approach for blood pressure control.
- Expert consensus guidelines address the application of renal denervation.
Framework:
- Recommendations from the German Society of Cardiology, German Society of Nephrology, and German Hypertension League.
- Defines resistant hypertension with specific blood pressure thresholds.
- Emphasizes the exclusion of secondary hypertension and pseudoresistance.
Implementation:
- Renal denervation involves selective denervation of renal sympathetic fibers.
- Procedure is indicated for patients with systolic office blood pressure ≥160 mmHg (or ≥150 mmHg in type 2 diabetes).
- Requires preserved renal function (glomerular filtration rate >45 ml/min) and optimized drug therapy.
Implications:
- Renal denervation reduces office systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
- Highlights the need for center qualification and interventional expertise.
- Recommends long-term follow-up and registry participation (e.g., GREAT Registry) for safety and efficacy assessment.
Abstract:
This commentary summarizes the expert consensus and recommendations of the working group 'Herz und Niere' of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK), the German Society of Nephrology (DGfN) and the German Hypertension League (DHL) on renal denervation for antihypertensive treatment. Renal denervation is a new, interventional approach to selectively denervate renal afferent and efferent sympathetic fibers. Renal denervation has been demonstrated to reduce office systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension, defined as systolic office blood pressure ≥ 160 mm Hg and ≥ 150 mm Hg in patients with diabetes type 2, which should currently be used as blood pressure thresholds for undergoing the procedure. Exclusion of secondary hypertension causes and optimized antihypertensive drug treatment is mandatory in every patient with resistant hypertension. In order to exclude pseudoresistance, 24-hour blood pressure measurements should be performed. Preserved renal function was an inclusion criterion in the Symplicity studies, therefore, renal denervation should be only considered in patients with a glomerular filtration rate > 45 ml/min. Adequate centre qualification in both, treatment of hypertension and interventional expertise are essential to ensure correct patient selection and procedural safety. Long-term follow-up after renal denervation and participation in the German Renal Denervation (GREAT) Registry are recommended to assess safety and efficacy after renal denervation over time.
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