Long-term outcomes of renal denervation and related sex characteristics: data from a three-year follow-up

Aim. To study the long-term outcomes of renal denervation (RDN) within 3-year follow-up with an assessment of blood pressure (BP) changes, the severity of target organ damage and the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with resistant hypertension (RH), taking into account sex characteristics.

Material and methods. A total of 42 patients with RH were examined at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 years after RDN on the background of antihypertensive therapy. Twenty-four-hour BP monitoring, echocardiography, assessment of creatinine level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), as well as determination of some cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, 6, 10, tumor necrosis factor-α) were performed.

Results. There was a persistent BP decrease in men and women for three years compared with the initial level by an average of 17 [4; 31]/10 [0; 18] mm Hg (p<0,05). Decrease in BP variability from 17,9±5,1 to 15,2±3,6 mm Hg was observed mainly by means of women, while the decrease in left ventricular mass from 250,4±64,0 to 229,3±61,9 g was mainly by means of men. Creatinine level was unchanged, while eGFR decreased from 78,8±16,1 to 74,5±20,3 ml/ min/1,73 m² over 3 years; the mean eGFR decline was 1,4 ml/min/1,73 m² in year. All studied cytokines tended to decrease regardless of sex: tumor necrosis factor-α — from 2,1 [1,2; 77] to 2,1 [1,7; 2,6] pg/ml (p=0,022); IL-1β — from 2,2 [1,5; 2,4] to 1,6 [1,1; 1,5] pg/ml (p=0,034); IL-6 — from 3,8 [1,6; 4,9] to 2,8 [1,8; 3,0] pg/ml (p>0,05), IL-10 — from 5,8 [3,2; 8,2] to 2,8 [2,6; 2,9] pg/ml (p=0,000), correlating with IL-6 dynamics.

Conclusion. Three years after RDN, there is a persistent decrease in mean 24-hour BP, regardless of sex. In women, a more pronounced BP variability decrease is observed, while in men — regression of left ventricular mass. There is no significant decrease in eGFR in the long-term period. The decrease in proinflammatory cytokines maintains, and in some cases becomes more pronounced within three years after RDN.

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