Influence of renal sympathetic denervation in patients with early-stage heart failure versus late-stage heart failure

Abstract

Renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) is currently being investigated in multiple studies of heart failure (HF). Our aim was to assess the safety and effectiveness of RDN in patients with HF, and determine which patients could achieve more beneficial effects of RDN. A total of 17 consecutive patients with HF were enrolled in the study. Clinical symptoms, office blood pressure, and laboratory results were obtained and echocardiography was performed before and 12 months after RDN. Changes from baseline to 12 months were analyzed for all patients and for two subgroups based on HF duration (group 1: HF duration ≤3 years, n = 9; group 2: HF duration > 3 years, n = 8). The RDN procedure was successful in all patients and no procedure-related complications were documented. In comparison to baseline, there was a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in all patients and group 1 (P < 0.05 for both), which did not happen in group 2. LAD, LVDs, and RVD also showed a significant reduction in group 1 (P < 0.05 for both). At 12 months, the reductions in TNF-α and CRP were significant for all patients and for patients in group 1 separately. No obvious changes in echocardiographic parameters, 6-minute walking distance, TNF-α, or CRP were recorded in group 2. No changes in BNP in either group were observed at the 12th month of follow-up. RDN could improve cardiac function and led to a significant drop in inflammatory markers in patients with HF. We also found that patients in early-stage HF could benefit more from RDN.