Comparison of two different radiofrequency ablation systems for renal artery denervation: Evaluation of short-term and long-term follow up.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the clinical efficacy of renal artery denervation (RAD) in our center and to compare the efficacy of two different radiofrequency (RF) systems.

BACKGROUND

Several systems are available for RF renal denervation. Whether there is a difference in clinical efficacy among various systems remains unknown.

METHODS

Renal artery denervation was performed on 43 patients with resistant hypertension using either the single electrode Symplicity Flex (n = 20) or the multi-electrode EnligHTN system (n = 23). Median post-procedural follow-up was 32.93 months. The primary outcome was post-procedural change in office blood pressure (BP) within 1 year (short-term follow-up). Secondary outcomes were change in office BP between 1 and 4 years (long-term follow-up) and the difference in office BP reduction between the two systems at each follow-up period.

RESULTS

For the total cohort, mean baseline office BP (systolic/diastolic) was 174/94 mmHg. At follow-up, mean changes in office BP from baseline were -19.70/-11.86 mmHg (P < 0.001) and -21.90/-13.94 mmHg (P < 0.001) for short-term and long-term follow-up, respectively. The differences in office BP reduction between Symplicity and EnligHTN groups were 8.96/1.23 mmHg (P = 0.42 for systolic BP, P = 0.83 for diastolic BP) and 9.56/7.68 mmHg (P = 0.14 for systolic BP, P = 0.07 for diastolic BP) for short-term and long-term follow-up, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort, there was a clinically significant office BP reduction after RAD, which persisted up to 4 years. No significant difference in office BP reduction between the two systems was found.