New Hope for Resistant Hypertension: A Breakthrough Treatment is Changing Lives
- MedBridge NZ
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
"My blood pressure has finally stabilized, and I'm even taking two fewer medications. I never expected the results to be this good!" exclaimed Mr. Liu, a 35-year-old who has been battling hypertension for over seven years. His high blood pressure was so severe that it led to acute left heart failure, and even a combination of multiple medications couldn't bring it under control. However, after a single minimally invasive procedure, his blood pressure is now within the ideal range, and his quality of life has significantly improved.
Resistant hypertension, a condition that affects 4-20% of hypertension patients worldwide, has long been a challenge for both patients and doctors. But now, there's new hope, thanks to a groundbreaking treatment. For patients whose blood pressure remains high despite taking multiple medications, this new procedure offers a chance at a healthier life. If you are exploring advanced medical treatments in China, you may consider a medical concierge provider for a seamless experience.
Comprehensive Evaluation is Key
For patients with resistant hypertension, a comprehensive evaluation is of utmost importance. This includes systematic screening to rule out secondary causes of hypertension, such as renal artery stenosis, kidney disease, endocrine disorders, and aortic coarctation. However, even after ruling out these factors, some patients' blood pressure remains difficult to control.
A Breakthrough Treatment: Renal Denervation (RDN)
To address this clinical challenge, an innovative, minimally invasive, safe, and effective therapy has been introduced: percutaneous renal sympathetic nerve radiofrequency ablation, or Renal Denervation (RDN).
This cutting-edge technique works by precisely targeting and inhibiting the overactive sympathetic nerves in the renal arteries, which are a key contributor to high blood pressure. To date, more than 50 successful surgeries have been performed, with encouraging clinical results.
Based on its significant efficacy, the RDN ablation catheter has been officially approved by the National Medical Products Administration in China. The therapy has also been certified as a new clinical technology, marking the authoritative recognition of its safety and effectiveness. This is a significant milestone for Medical Tourism China.
A Patient's Story: A Testament to RDN's Effectiveness
A patient's experience is a vivid example of the effectiveness of RDN. Four months prior to the procedure, he was hospitalized for acute left heart failure caused by hypertension. Despite being on a cocktail of drugs, his average 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was still as high as 152/92 mmHg. He had also developed serious target organ damage, such as ventricular hypertrophy and renal insufficiency.
The RDN procedure was performed, successfully ablating a total of 60 points in the main trunk and branches of the renal arteries. Nearly two months after the surgery, a follow-up visit showed that his office blood pressure had stabilized at around 110/80 mmHg, even after reducing two of his antihypertensive drugs. The patient was extremely satisfied with the treatment results.
The Future of Hypertension Treatment
With its minimally invasive, safe, and long-lasting effects, RDN has been recommended for the treatment of resistant hypertension in several domestic and international hypertension guidelines and expert consensuses. Today, RDN, along with lifestyle interventions and drug therapy, forms the "troika" of antihypertensive treatment, bringing new hope to patients with stubborn hypertension.
The story doesn't end here. Researchers are dedicated to finding biological markers for the efficacy of RDN, aiming to more accurately screen the hypertensive patient population most suitable for RDN treatment and promote the application of precision medicine in the field of hypertension.
Author:
This article was written by Dr. Jianzhong Xu, Chief Physician, from the Department of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.
References:
Farewell to Refractory Hypertension: Ruijin Hospital's New Technology Makes Blood Pressure "Obedient". (2025, July 3). Retrieved from https://sghexport.shobserver.com/html/baijiahao/2025/07/03/1605530.html
