Medtronic releases 1-year hypertension ablation study | MassDevice.com On Call

Medical device giant Medtronic releases 1-year results from its Symplicity HTN-2 trial of renal ablation as treatment for drug-resistant hypertension.

MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Renal ablation continues to look good as a treatment for drug-resistant hypertension after 1 year of follow-up, according to newly released results of Medtronic's [1] (NYSE:MDT [2]) Symplicity HTN-2 trial.

Researchers directed "short bursts of radio waves" at the nerves surrounding the kidneys, successfully lowering blood pressure for at least 6 months and up to 1 year, according to the American Heart Assn.

"Studies will soon determine whether this procedure can cure mild hypertension, producing permanent drug-free normalization of blood pressure," Murray Esler, professor and senior director of the Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute in Australia, said in prepared remarks [3]. "Based on the blood pressure declines achieved, reduction in heart attack and stroke rates of more than 40 percent is anticipated."