Summary

Hypertension (HTN) affects more than 25% of adults in developed societies [Wolf-Maier K et al. Hypertension 2004] and is a leading attributable cause of mortality worldwide, causing 7.5 million deaths annually [Symplicity HTN-1 Investigators. Hypertension 2011]. Refractory or resistant hypertension, which is defined as elevated blood pressure despite full doses of 3 antihypertensive agents, including a diuretic, is being increasingly recognized as a clinically important problem that might affect 13% of the hypertensive population [Geisler BP et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2012]. Recently, catheter-based renal denervation treatment has proven to be a viable therapeutic approach for resistant HTN [Geisler BP et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2012]. This article discusses emerging technologies and new renal denervation devices in development.