Renal and cardiac effects of renal sympathetic denervation and carotid baroreceptor stimulation.

Cumulative evidence nowadays supports the dominant role of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation in patients with hypertension, congestive heart failure, and renal dysfunction. During the last years innovative interventional treatments [renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) and baroreflex activation therapy (BAT)] have emerged and accompanied by sustained reductions of blood pressure (BP) levels. Moreover, these promising therapies are favorable not only on BP regulation but also on the SNS overdrive-related organ damage. The present review focuses on the association of SNS activation with renal and cardiac diseases and presents the cardiorenal effects of RSD and BAT in experimental and clinical settings.