Purpose of review: This review was undertaken to update readers on the field of therapeutic renal denervation for hypertension during the 2016 through 2018 period.
Recent findings: After the failure of Symplicity HTN-3 to meet its top line objective, intense scrutiny revealed several possible concerns addressed by the newer investigations into the area of renal denervation. These included better device technology, more intense subject monitoring for off-protocol antihypertensive drug usage, and deeper penetration into the renal vasculature by the interventionist. Whether untreated by medication for hypertension or on antihypertensive medication, renal denervation shows a clear, though moderate, blood pressure reduction. The failure of roughly one out of three patients with hypertension to respond to denervation procedures argues that there is room for improvement in choosing the optimal patient for this approach to hypertension management.
Keywords: Alcohol ablation; Hypertension; Radiofrequency ablation; Renal denervation; Ultrasound ablation.