Review
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World J Cardiol. Apr 26, 2013; 5(4): 94-101
Published online Apr 26, 2013. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i4.94
Renal sympathetic denervation in resistant hypertension
Mário Santos, Henrique Carvalho
Mário Santos, Henrique Carvalho, Cardiology Department, Hospital Santo António, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
Author contributions: Both authors contributed equally to this paper.
Correspondence to: Henrique Carvalho, MD, PhD, Cardiology Department, Hospital Santo António, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal. henriquecyrnecarvalho@hotmail.com
Telephone: +351-222-077500 Fax: +351-222-053218
Received: December 26, 2012
Revised: March 18, 2013
Accepted: March 23, 2013
Published online: April 26, 2013
Processing time: 122 Days and 1.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Renal percutaneous denervation allows modulating the central sympathetic tone and is a promising new approach to our old strategy of inhibiting sympathetic system. In this review we describe the pathophysiological knowledge that encouraged the development of this procedure. We critically examine the available clinical evidence of the impact of renal denervation on resistant hypertension. After describing the procedure and how to select the adequate patients, we discuss the future potential therapeutic roles in other disease conditions beyond resistant hypertension.