Carotid Baroreceptor Stimulation: A Potential Solution for Resistant Hypertension

Abstract

Resistant hypertension indicates that the blood pressure cannot reach the target value despite standard drug treatment, which harbors an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. The role of the carotid sinus in regulating blood pressure has long been observed; thereby, the idea that treating resistant hypertension by stimulating carotid baroreceptors emerged. Nevertheless, this idea has been abandoned for years due to technical limitations. Recently, with the evolutions in implantable electrical devices, expectations for treating resistant hypertension with baroreceptor stimulation have increased. Positive results from several multicenter clinical trials further captured the researchers' enthusiasm for more effective baroreceptor-stimulating devices. This study reviews the recent progress in baroreceptor stimulation as a treatment alternative for resistant hypertension.