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The University Heart Center at the Bad Krozingen campus of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg was successfully certified as the first renal denervation center in Baden-Württemberg

In November, the University Heart Center at the Bad Krozingen campus of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg became the first center in Baden-Württemberg to successfully complete certification as a renal denervation center. In patients with high blood pressure that cannot be reduced by lifestyle changes or medication, nerve cords in the renal arteries can be sclerosed in a targeted manner, which leads to a reduction in blood pressure. On the recommendation of the European Society of Hypertension, this so-called renal denervation should be carried out in certified centers with a high level of experience wherever possible.

"Renal denervation is an important treatment option for patients with uncontrollable high blood pressure. Until now, some of those affected have been taking several blood pressure medications at the same time without any improvement," says Dr. Elias Noory, Senior Consultant in the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "In recent years, we have been able to offer the procedure to patients as part of several medical studies. In our studies, 80 percent of those treated benefited permanently."

Correcting "overactive" communication between nerves and renal arteries

Almost 30 million people in Germany live with high blood pressure. If it remains above 140 to 90 mmHg for a long time, the risk of a heart attack, heart failure, stroke or kidney disease increases. It is often possible to regulate blood pressure through diet, exercise and well-tolerated medication. However, in around 20 percent of those affected, even regular use of three or more antihypertensive medications is unsuccessful. These patients suffer from treatment-resistant high blood pressure, known as "refractory hypertension".

For them - and for patients who cannot tolerate high blood pressure medication - renal denervation can bring an important improvement. In this minimally invasive procedure, catheters are used to obliterate overactive nerve cords around the renal arteries, which play a key role in blood pressure regulation. Targeted obliteration restores balance to the disturbed communication between the sympathetic nervous system and the kidneys. This often results in a long-term reduction in blood pressure.

"The University Heart Center at the Bad Krozingen campus has already been certified as a hypertension center for some time. With the recognition as a Renal Denervation Center, our many years of experience in the treatment of persistent high blood pressure have now been doubly confirmed," says Prof. Dr. Dirk Westermann, Medical Director of the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

Patients who are interested in renal denervation should seek advice from their GP or specialist as to whether the procedure is suitable for them.

Caption: Improvement at last: After several medications proved ineffective, Stefan Eisemann's (right) persistent high blood pressure was reduced with renal denervation. The procedure was performed by Dr. Elias Noory at the University Heart Center - University of Freiburg Medical Center.
Image source: Medical Center - University of Freiburg