Research progress in catheter-based renal denervation in treatment of hypertension and other diseases

The excessive activation of the renal sympathetic nervous system plays a crucial role in the onset and development of hypertension. Since the publication of the SYMPLICITY HTN-1 study in 2009, renal denervation (RDN) via catheter-based procedures has made significant advancements. With increasingly robust clinical evidence, it has been recommended in many countries and regions as a non-pharmacological method for treating refractory hypertension or patients with inadequate blood pressure control. Besides hypertension, RDN holds potential benefits for cardiogenic diseases such as heart failure and arrhythmias, as well as non-cardiogenic diseases including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and metabolic disorders. This article aims to elucidate the clinical evidence of RDN in the treatment of hypertension and other diseases, discuss its limitations and explore future directions.