CardioExchange Archive

February 19th, 2015

Companies Plan To Resume Renal Denervation Trials

Larry Husten, PHD

Medtronic and Boston Scientific have announced plans to start phase 2 clinical trials this year for their updated renal denervation catheters. The once promising new technology is intended to treat hypertension unresponsive to drug therapy. The failure last year of Medtronic’s Symplicity HTN-3, the first large pivotal trial to rigorously test renal denervation, sent manufacturers back to their […]

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February 9th, 2015

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: February 9th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the efficacy of a device to narrow the coronary sinus in refractory angina and an open-label trial comparing the Symplicity device with stepped drug treatment for resistant hypertension.

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January 22nd, 2015

New Device to Lower Resistant Hypertension Shows Early Promise

Larry Husten, PHD

A novel implantable device appears to show early promise in the treatment of resistant hypertension. The “Coupler” device from ROX Medical is about the size of a paper clip and is delivered via a catheter to the upper thigh, where it creates an anastomosis between the distal external iliac vein and artery, thereby mechanically lowering […]

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April 14th, 2014

The Uncertain Future of Renal Denervation

Larry Husten, PHD

Following the spectacular crash and burn of the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting two weeks ago, the future of renal denervation (RDN) — the once highly promising catheter technology that many thought would cure resistant hypertension — appears in doubt. Although the device has not been approved in the U.S. — and will not be approved […]

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April 7th, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: April 7th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include SYMPLICITY HTN-3, CoreValve, MADIT-CRT, and more.

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March 29th, 2014

Negative Findings on Renal Denervation for Hypertension: Sweet SYMPLICITY?

Sandeep Mangalmurti, MD, JD

Deepak L. Bhatt, co-principal investigator of the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial, discusses the trial’s findings and their implications for clinical practice.

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March 29th, 2014

No Benefit Found in First Real Test of Renal Denervation

Larry Husten, PHD

SYMPLICITY HTN-3, the eagerly awaited first rigorous test of renal denervation, shows that the real effect of the novel blood-pressure-lowering technology is dramatically lower than earlier expectations, which had been fueled by data from previous uncontrolled trials. Results of SYMPLICITY HTN-3 were presented at the American College of Cardiology conference in Washington, DC, and published simultaneously […]

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March 10th, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: March 10th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include cognitive function and brain structure in type 2 diabetics after intensive lowering of BP and lipid levels, the association of β-blocker therapy with risks of adverse CV events and deaths in those with ischemic heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery, and more.

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February 24th, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: February 24th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include radiofrequency ablation vs. antiarrhythmic drugs as first-line treatment of paroxysmal AF, Symplicity HTN-1 and Symplicity HTN-3, and more.

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February 17th, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: February 17th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include hospital variation in noninvasive cardiac imaging, percutaneous renal denervation in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, and more.

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