New treatment for hypertension being trialled

7 September 2016

A potentially life-changing one-off treatment for high blood pressure is currently being trialled at The Alfred. 

The Alfred cardiac team is calling for participants in a new renal denervation study, which will determine whether the procedure is successful in treating chronic hypertension.

The procedure uses a specially-designed catheter to desensitise nerves to the kidneys, which can be responsible for elevated blood pressure in some people. If the procedure is successful, it will provide an alternative treatment for hypertension, rather than taking daily medication. 

Head of Structural Heart Program at The Alfred, Associate Professor Tony Walton, said this was an important trial to assess the effectiveness of renal denervation, particularly for people who have not responded to medication for high blood pressure.

The procedure is fast and is completed while the patient is under sedation.

Anyone who has diagnosed hypertension that is not responding to medication and would like to participate in the trial is urged to contact cardiactrials@alfred.org.au for more information.  

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