Objective: Chronic carotid baroreflex stimulation (Rheos system) has been shown to effectively reduce blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension. Upon acute stimulation blood pressure also falls as a function of voltage. the aim of this study is to evaluate whether this voltage-dependent blood pressure decrease is preserved after long-term carotid baroreflex stimulation.
Methods: Forty-five patients implanted with Rheos underwent a voltage response test (VRT) before the start of carotid baroreflex activation (1m), as well as after 4 (4m) and 13 months (13 m) of device implantation. After switching off the device for 10 min (0 V), we started the VRT by increasing voltage from 1 to 6 V, by 1-V steps every 5 min. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at the end of every step.
Results: At 1m, mean blood pressure was 178/101 mmHg at 0 V and fell to 142/83 mmHg at 6 V. Heart rate fell from 75 to 65 beats/min. At 4m and 13 m mean blood pressure was significantly lower compared to 1m when VRT started at 0 V (170/96 and 161/93 mmHg, respectively). However, pattern of blood pressure decrease during VRT was comparable with this at 1m. Maximum SBP reduction during VRT did not change with long-term therapy.
Conclusions: Acute voltage-dependent blood pressure and heart rate decrease with electrical baroreflex stimulation is preserved after at least 1 year of continuous activation in patients with resistant hypertension. This indicates that response adaptation and nerve fatigue are very unlikely in long-term carotid baroreflex activation.