PLoS ONE (Jan 2016)

Effects of Renal Denervation on Renal Artery Function in Humans: Preliminary Study.

  • Adelina Doltra,
  • Arthur Hartmann,
  • Philipp Stawowy,
  • Leonid Goubergrits,
  • Titus Kuehne,
  • Ernst Wellnhofer,
  • Rolf Gebker,
  • Christopher Schneeweis,
  • Bernhard Schnackenburg,
  • Murray Esler,
  • Eckart Fleck,
  • Sebastian Kelle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150662
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 3
p. e0150662

Abstract

Read online

AimTo study the effects of RD on renal artery wall function non-invasively using magnetic resonance.Methods and results32 patients undergoing RD were included. A 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance of the renal arteries was performed before RD and after 6-month. We quantified the vessel sharpness of both renal arteries using a quantitative analysis tool (Soap-Bubble®). In 17 patients we assessed the maximal and minimal cross-sectional area of both arteries, peak velocity, mean flow, and renal artery distensibility. In a subset of patients wall shear stress was assessed with computational flow dynamics. Neither renal artery sharpness nor renal artery distensibility differed significantly. A significant increase in minimal and maximal areas (by 25.3%, p = 0.008, and 24.6%, p = 0.007, respectively), peak velocity (by 16.9%, p = 0.021), and mean flow (by 22.4%, p = 0.007) was observed after RD. Wall shear stress significantly decreased (by 25%, p = 0.029). These effects were observed in blood pressure responders and non-responders.ConclusionsRD is not associated with adverse effects at renal artery level, and leads to an increase in cross-sectional areas, velocity and flow and a decrease in wall shear stress.