Renal denervation using an irrigated radiofrequency ablation catheter for management of drug-resistant hypertension: a demonstrated value?

Importance. First and foremost is the clinical problem for hich this newly advanced technique has been designed: rug-resistant hypertension. The magnitude of this problem ay be overinterpreted. There are over 60 million potential atients with hypertension in the United States and far ore when one considers that 100% of very old individuals i.e., 80 years of age) also have hypertension. Therefore, he fundamental clinical problem is not that of “drug esistance” but hypertension resistant to multidrug therapy, hich occurs in only a minority of patients with hypertenion. Most assuredly, by far, over 60% of these potential atients with hypertension either remain unrecognized or re untreated or have been entered into a treatment program ut do not have their blood pressures controlled (2). Only a mall fraction of patients with hypertension actually have drug-resistant hypertension.” Many of these patients may dhere poorly to the prescribed treatment (3).