Alcohol-mediated renal denervation in patients with hypertension in the absence of antihypertensive medications

Background: Ultrasound and radiofrequency renal denervation (RDN) have been shown to safely lower blood pressure (BP) in hypertension.

Aims: The TARGET BP OFF-MED trial investigated the efficacy and safety of alcohol-mediated renal denervation (RDN) in the absence of antihypertensive medications.

Methods: This randomised, blinded, sham-controlled trial was conducted in 25 centres in Europe and the USA. Patients with a 24-hour systolic BP of 135-170 mmHg, an office systolic BP 140-180 mmHg and diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg on 0-2 antihypertensive medications were enrolled. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in mean 24-hour systolic BP at 8 weeks. Safety endpoints included major adverse events up to 30 days.

Results: A total of 106 patients were randomised; the baseline mean office BP following medication washout was 159.4/100.4±10.9/7.0 mmHg (RDN) and 160.1/98.3±11.0/6.1 mmHg (sham), respectively. At 8 weeks post-procedure, the mean (±standard deviation) 24-hour systolic BP change was ‒2.9±7.4 mmHg (p=0.009) versus ‒1.4±8.6 mmHg (p=0.25) in the RDN and sham groups, respectively (mean between-group difference: 1.5 mmHg; p=0.27). There were no differences in safety events between groups. After 12 months of blinded follow-up, with medication escalation, patients achieved similar office systolic BP (RDN: 147.9±18.5 mmHg; sham: 147.8±15.1 mmHg; p=0.68) with a significantly lower medication burden in the RDN group (mean daily defined dose: 1.5±1.5 vs 2.3±1.7; p=0.017).

Conclusions: In this trial, alcohol-mediated RDN was delivered safely but was not associated with significant BP differences between groups. Medication burden was lower in the RDN group up to 12 months.