Blood pressure variability and circadian pattern after renal denervation - croatian real-life study

Objective: Recent trials confirmed the lowering effect of renal denervation (RDN) on blood pressure (BP). We aimed to analyze the impact of RDN on BP variability and circadian rhythm. Design and method: Out of 31 truly resistant patients whose secondary forms of hypertension were ruled out and were enrolled into the Croatian Spyral RDN registry, 18 (10 m, 8 w, average age 49.3) were eligible for analyses. Office BP, ABPM, central BP, and PWV were measured with Omron M6, Mobilograph, and Sphygmocor devices. Sympathetic/parasympathetic activity was measured with ANX-3.0 ANSAR device. All RDN procedures (Spyral Medtronic) were done by one physician (average number of ablation spots was 41/procedure). Patients were examined the day before and that day, 1,3,6, and 12 months after the RDN. The response was a drop of office systolic BP by 10 mmHg or more 6 months after RDN. There were no differences in the RDN procedure between responders and non-responders. Results: Office and ABPM values dropped the day after RDN and remained significantly lower at the end of the follow-up (6.5/-5.5 and -16.2/9 mmHg, respectively). We failed to find changes in BP variability (SD) after RDN. However, a significant decrease in morning BP surge was observed immediately the day after RDN (-12.4) and was even lower at the end of the follow-up (-18.8 mmHg). Substantial number of patients who had an abnormal nocturnal BP pattern became dippers. Central systolic BP and PWV decreased (-6.3 mmHg and -0.72 m/s, respectively). LFa/RFa decreased the day after RDN and reminded lower during the follow-up period. After RDN morning BP surge remained stable and normal in responders; however, in non-responders, it decreased immediately after RDN (-21.2) and remained lower during the follow-up till the last visit (-33.3). Conclusions: Significant improvements in circadian rhythm and several parameters of central hemodynamics were observed after RDN indicating that RDN might be considered as a pathway to the complete, so-called perfect 24-hour BP control. Observed beneficial effects run in parallel with the observed decrease in sympathetic activity. Importantly, even in non-responders, RDN had a beneficial effect on morning BP surge.