9 December 2010

Ardian symplicity treatment

An international clinical trial involving patients at Barts and The London NHS Trust could spell real hope for patients with persistent high blood pressure.

The forty minute procedure could help patients whose blood pressure is uncontrollable through conventional medication.

It involves sending radio waves, via a catheter or metal wire, to nerves near to the kidneys. This destroys the signals which control blood pressure, resulting in a dramatic lowering of the patient’s blood pressure in some cases.

Dr Mel Lobo, one of the clinical research leads from the National Institute of Health Research Unit at Barts and The London NHS Trust said:  “This is truly a groundbreaking development. 

“Many patients with extremely high blood pressure are literally at risk of dying at any moment from strokes and heart attacks.

“This procedure will benefit those patients whose condition has not been helped through traditional medication or who are unable to tolerate tablets due to side-effects.

“In the long run, though, it may benefit an even wider range of patients with hypertension.”

Results of the international trial which ran across the world showed that patients in the study benefited from an average 32 mm HG reduction in (systolic) blood pressure.

Dr Lobo said: “That is a very significant drop indeed and something we rarely achieve through medication even in patients who are responsive to tablets.

“The next step is to try to get this treatment made available to patients on the NHS so that as many people as possible can benefit.”

Great-grandfather Fred Quatromini, who underwent the procedure, said:  “My blood pressure problem started a few years ago and just got worse.  The doctors referred me to Dr Lobo and he monitored my blood pressure which continued to rise". 

This was despite taking regular exercise and looking after his health, said Mr Quatromini, a retired security guard.  “He then told me about the trial.  I was in two minds – it had never been done before and I did have reservations.  But I had a chat with my family and we decided to go for it.

“By this time, my blood pressure was sometimes over 200.  On December 11 2009 they took me in to the London Chest Hospital where I had the procedure done and went back to the London for observation and next day they let me home. 

“It’s now down to 155 over 80.  I’m still on the same medication but I’m definitely happy that I went on the trial.  I feel more relaxed now that it’s down.” 

Professor Patrick Caulfield, joint leader of the trial with Dr Lobo, and Director of the William Harvey Research Institute and the NIHR Cardiovascular Biomedical Resarch Unit at Barts, said:  "I am delighted that this study facilitated by Barts and The London National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Unit has shown substantial falls in blood pressure in patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension on multiple medicines.

"It offers a novel route to reduce bp and cardiovascular risk in people who have exhausted conventional treatment.

"The long term effects will be assessed over the coming years in this and other studies but we are delighted to have had the opportunity to involve our patients in this study which may accelerate transfer of this therapy into the National Health Service."

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