Recent research has shown that a radical therapy that zaps the Kidneys with radio waves could provide a permanent cure for high blood pressure. The procedure may be available on the United Kingdom National Health Scheme (NHS) as early as next year after trials showed it produced dramatic improvements in the condition.
The breakthrough could bring hope to the thousands of patients who do not respond to drugs. Change in lifestyles, such as cutting back on salt and alcohol and exercise, can control blood pressure and there are a number of drug treatment available. But many who are on medication, as many as five different types still have difficulty with it. It is this group that can be helped.
Professor Mar Caulfield, who has been involved in trials of the technique- Known as Renal Denervation said that he hoped that it will be offered on the NHS no later than April 2013. It could make a profound difference to a significant minority of high-risk patients; it might be tens of thousands.
The technique uses a burst of radiofrequency energy delivered through a catheter to knock out a number of tiny nerves that run in the lining of the arteries of the kidney. High blood pressure is sometimes caused by faulty signals from the brain to these nerves.
Latest findings from a trial show reductions in blood pressure for at least 18 months after treatment. Doctors in UK are setting up a registry to allow long term monitoring of all those having the procedure, but so far trials have shown no ill- effects.
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