[Hypertension and the sympathetic nervous system - recent developments in research and treatment].

The sympathetic nervous system importantly contributes to the control of the circulation and is an important therapeutic target to lower arterial pressure in hypertensive patients. Recent advances in the understanding of the organization of adrenergic receptors in multiprotein complexes have improved our understanding of arterial pressure control and may have impact on drug development and genetic research in the field of hypertension. New developments in biomedical technology allow for non-pharmacological interventions to reduce sympathetic activity and provide new options to treat hypertensive patients who are resistant to antihypertensive drug therapy.