Suraj Maraj, Rikesh Patel, Rene Oliveros, Saurabh Sanon, Tim Dao, Sik Hur and Robert Chilton
Treatment of hypertension using renal artery sympathetic denervation was first reported as early as 1924, but only recently has the advent of safer, less invasive techniques allowed this treatment modality to emerge as a promising treatment for hypertension. Aside from reductions in blood pressure, the effect of this treatment appears to be more widespread than initially thought. Renal artery sympathetic denervation may globally reduce cardiovascular risk through a variety of mechanisms such as decreased insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and organ hypertrophy, along with improvement in diastolic function and other metabolic parameters. The following is a comprehensive review of current literature on renal artery sympathetic denervation with a focus on potential cardiovascular benefits.