INTRODUCTION

The effect of renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) on neurohormonal responses is largely unknown. We aimed to assess the effect of RDN on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and endogenous catecholamines.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients with hypertension underwent RDN and remained on a stable antihypertensive drug regimen. Samples for plasma aldosterone, plasma renin and urine (nor)metanephrine were collected at baseline and at 6 months post procedure. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) recordings were obtained at baseline and at 6 months post procedure.

RESULTS

Mean age was 64±9 years, and 30/60 patients were male. At 6 months, average daytime systolic and diastolic ambulatory BP decreased by 10 and 6 mmHg, respectively (<0.001). No significant change was observed in plasma aldosterone (median=248.0 pmol/L (interquartile range (IQR) 113.3-369.5 pmol/L) vs. median=233.0 pmol/L (IQR 110.3-360.8 pmol/L); =0.66); renin (median=19.5 µIU/mL (IQR 6.8-119.5 µIU/mL) vs. median=14.3 µIU/mL (IQR 7.2-58.0 µIU/mL); =0.32), urine metanephrine (median=0.46 µmol/L (IQR 0.24-0.77 µmol/L) vs. median=0.46 µmol/L (IQR 0.22-0.88 µmol/L); =0.75) and normetanephrine (median=1.41 µmol/L (IQR 0.93-2.00 µmol/L vs. median =1.56 (IQR 0.74-2.50 µmol/L); =0.58) between baseline and 6 months, respectively. No correlation was found between the decrease in mean systolic daytime BP and changes in RAAS hormones or endogenous catecholamines.

CONCLUSION

Despite significant reductions in ambulatory BP, RDN did not result in a significant change in endogenous catecholamines or in RAAS hormones at 6 months.