Objective Renal denervation by radiofrenquency (RF) catheter could result in a significant lowering of blood pressure (BP). This study aims to examine the feasibility and safety of renal denvervation by a standard electrophysiology (EP) catheter and trans-brachial approach for Chinese patients suffered from resistant hypertension.

Methods From August 2011 to December 2011, a total of 17 resistant hypertension patients received percutaneous renal artery ablation by a standard RF catheter (Celsius^®, Innercool Therapies, Inc, Johnson&Johnson, USA). Patients were divided into trans-brachial group or trans-femoral group by the operator’s desire and followed up for 3 month after the index procedure. Blood samples were taken to evaluate the effects on renal function.

Results There is no difference of BP decrease (systolic BP: 41.8 ± 37.0 mmHg in trans-brachial group vs. 21.4 ± 16.6 mmHg in trans-brachial artery group, p = 0.172; diastolic BP: 23.1 ± 24.4 mmHg vs. 14.9 ± 13.2 mmHg, p = 0.396) between the 2 groups. The trans-brachial group has a tendency of longer procedure time (117.2 ± 36.0 min vs. 89.4 ± 16.4 min, p = 0.063) and fluoroscopy time (26.8 ± 7.9 min vs. 20.1 ± 4.8 min, p = 0.057) comparing with trans-femoral group. The renal function presented by eGFR didn’t change (118.8 ± 101.0 ml/min/1.73m² vs. 85.4 ± 48.4 ml/min/1.73m², p = 0.29).

Conclusions Catheter-based renal denervation by a standard EP catheter seems an attractive novel minimally invasive treatment option in patients with resistant hypertension, and trans-brachial approach is also feasible for this new promising therapy.