Project description:Animal and human data indicate pathological afferent signaling emanating from the carotid body that drives sympathetically mediated elevations in blood pressure in conditions of hypertension. This first-in-man, proof-of-principle study tested the safety and feasibility of unilateral carotid body resection in 15 patients with drug-resistant hypertension. The procedure proved to be safe and feasible. Overall, no change in blood pressure was found. However, 8 patients showed significant reductions in ambulatory blood pressure coinciding with decreases in sympathetic activity. The carotid body may be a novel target for treating an identifiable subpopulation of humans with hypertension.
Project description:Bilateral bipolar electric carotid sinus stimulation acutely reduced muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant arterial hypertension but is no longer available. The second-generation device uses a smaller unilateral unipolar disk electrode to reduce invasiveness while saving battery life. We hypothesized that the second-generation device acutely lowers BP and MSNA in treatment-resistant hypertensive patients. Eighteen treatment-resistant hypertensive patients (9 women/9 men; 53±11 years; 33±5 kg/m(2)) on stable medications have been included in the study. We monitored finger and brachial BP, heart rate, and MSNA. Without stimulation, BP was 165±31/91±18 mm Hg, heart rate was 75±17 bpm, and MSNA was 48±14 bursts per minute. Acute stimulation with intensities producing side effects that were tolerable in the short term elicited interindividually variable changes in systolic BP (-16.9±15.0 mm Hg; range, 0.0 to -40.8 mm Hg; P=0.002), heart rate (-3.6±3.6 bpm; P=0.004), and MSNA (-2.0±5.8 bursts per minute; P=0.375). Stimulation intensities had to be lowered in 12 patients to avoid side effects at the expense of efficacy (systolic BP, -6.3±7.0 mm Hg; range, 2.8 to -14.5 mm Hg; P=0.028 and heart rate, -1.5±2.3 bpm; P=0.078; comparison against responses with side effects). Reductions in diastolic BP and MSNA (total activity) were correlated (r(2)=0.329; P=0.025). In our patient cohort, unilateral unipolar electric baroreflex stimulation acutely lowered BP. However, side effects may limit efficacy. The approach should be tested in a controlled comparative study.
Project description:PURPOSE OF REVIEW:Patients with true resistant hypertension (RH) are characterized by having high sympathetic activity and therefore potentially benefit from treatments such as baroreflex amplification (baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) or endovascular baroreflex amplification therapy (EVBA)) or carotid body (CB) modulation. This review aims at providing an up-to-date overview of the available evidence regarding these two therapies. RECENT FINDINGS:In recent years, increasing evidence has confirmed the potential of baroreflex amplification, either electrically (Barostim neo) or mechanically (MobiusHD), to improve blood pressure control on short- and long-term with only few side effects, in patients with RH. Two studies regarding unilateral CB resection did not show a significant change in blood pressure. Only limited studies regarding CB modulation showed promising results for transvenous CB ablation, but not for unilateral CB resection. Despite promising results from mostly uncontrolled studies, more evidence regarding the safety and efficacy from ongoing large randomized sham-controlled trials is needed before baroreflex amplification and CB modulation can be implemented in routine clinical practice.
Project description:The purposes of this study are to investigate the cost-effectiveness of an implantable carotid body stimulator (Rheos; CVRx, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) for treating resistant hypertension and determine the range of starting systolic blood pressure (SBP) values where the device remains cost-effective. A Markov model compared a 20-mm Hg drop in SBP from an initial level of 180 mm Hg with Rheos to failed medical management in a hypothetical 50-year-old cohort. Direct costs (2007$), utilities, and event rates for future myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and end-stage renal disease were modeled. Sensitivity analyses tested the assumptions in the model. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for Rheos was $64,400 per quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) using Framingham-derived event probabilities. The ICER was <$100,000 per QALYs for SBPs > or =142 mm Hg. A probability of device removal of <1% per year or SBP reductions of > or =24 mm Hg were variables that decreased the ICER below $50,000 per QALY. For cohort characteristics similar to Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial-Blood Pressure-Lowering Arm (ASCOT-BPLA) participants, the ICER became $26,700 per QALY. Two-way sensitivity analyses demonstrated that lowering SBP 12 mm Hg from 220 mm Hg or 21 mm Hg from 140 mm Hg were required. Rheos may be cost-effective, with an ICER between $50,000 and $100,000 per QALYs. Cohort characteristics and efficacy are key to the cost-effectiveness of new therapies for resistant hypertension .
Project description:BackgroundCarotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare entities for which surgical resection remains the gold standard. Given their hypervascularity, preoperative embolization is often used; however, controversy exists over whether a benefit is associated. Proponents of embolization argue that it minimizes blood loss and complications. Critics argue that cost and stroke outweigh benefits. This study aimed to investigate the impact of embolization on outcomes following CBT resection.MethodsPatients undergoing CBT resection were identified using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database for 5 states between 2006 and 2013. Patients were divided into 2 groups: carotid body tumor resection alone (CBTR) and carotid body tumor resection with preoperative arterial embolization (CBETR). Descriptive statistics were calculated using arithmetic means with standard deviations for continuous variables and proportions for categorical variables. Patients were propensity score matched on the basis of sex, age, race, insurance, and comorbidity prior to analysis. Risk-adjusted odds of mortality, stroke, nerve injury, blood loss, and length of stay (LOS) were calculated using mixed-effects regression models with fixed effects for age, race, sex, and comorbidities.ResultsA total of 547 patients were identified. Of these, 472 patients underwent CBTR and 75 underwent CBETR. Mean age was 54.7 ± 16 years. Mean number of days between embolization and resection was 0.65 ± 0.72 days (range 0-3). When compared with CBTR, there were no significant differences in mortality for CBETR (1.35% vs. 0%, P = 0.316), cranial nerve injury (2.7% vs. 0%, P = 0.48), and blood loss (2.7% vs. 6.8%, P = 0.245). Following risk adjustment, CBETR increased the odds of prolonged LOS (odds ratio 5.3, 95% confidence interval 2.1-13.3).ConclusionsCBT resection is a relatively rare procedure. The utility of preoperative tumor embolization has been questioned. This study demonstrates no benefit of preoperative tumor embolization.
Project description:Pharmacologic therapy for hypertension is effective for the majority of patients with hypertension, but there is a subset of the population with treatment-resistant hypertension who cannot achieve their blood pressure goal despite taking multiple medications. Since these patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and end-organ damage, additional therapies must be considered. This review discusses several novel interventional therapies-including baroreflex activation therapy, baroreceptor stenting, and creation of an arteriovenous shunt-that may provide alternative options for blood pressure control in those with treatment-resistant hypertension. All of these therapies remain investigational, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses that will be critical to assess as they come to market.
Project description:AimsThe carotid bodies (CBs) of spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats exhibit hypertonicity and hyperreflexia contributing to heightened peripheral sympathetic outflow. We hypothesized that CB hyperexcitability is driven by its own sympathetic innervation.Methods and resultsTo test this, the chemoreflex was activated (NaCN 50-100 µL, 0.4 µg/µL) in SH and Wistar rats in situ before and after: (i) electrical stimulation (ES; 30 Hz, 2 ms, 10 V) of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), which innervates the CB; (ii) unilateral resection of the SCG (SCGx); (iii) CB injections of an α1-adrenergic receptor agonist (phenylephrine, 50 µL, 1 mmol/L), and (iv) α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin (40 µL, 1 mmol/L) or tamsulosin (50 µL, 1 mmol/L). ES of the SCG enhanced CB-evoked sympathoexcitation by 40-50% (P < 0.05) with no difference between rat strains. Unilateral SCGx attenuated the CB-evoked sympathoexcitation in SH (62%; P < 0.01) but was without effect in Wistar rats; it also abolished the ongoing firing of chemoreceptive petrosal neurones of SH rats, which became hyperpolarized. In Wistar rats, CB injections of phenylephrine enhanced CB-evoked sympathoexcitation (33%; P < 0.05), which was prevented by prazosin (26%; P < 0.05) in SH rats. Tamsulosin alone reproduced the effects of prazosin in SH rats and prevented the sensitizing effect of the SCG following ES. Within the CB, α1A- and α1B-adrenoreceptors were co-localized on both glomus cells and blood vessels. In conscious SH rats instrumented for recording blood pressure (BP), the CB-evoked pressor response was attenuated after SCGx, and systolic BP fell by 16 ± 4.85 mmHg.ConclusionsThe sympathetic innervation of the CB is tonically activated and sensitizes the CB of SH but not Wistar rats. Furthermore, sensitization of CB-evoked reflex sympathoexcitation appears to be mediated by α1-adrenoceptors located either on the vasculature and/or glomus cells. The SCG is novel target for controlling CB pathophysiology in hypertension.
Project description:Carotid body pathophysiology is associated with many cardiovascular-respiratory-metabolic diseases. This pathophysiology reflects both hyper-sensitivity and hyper-tonicity. From both animal models and human patients, evidence indicates that amelioration of this pathophysiological signalling improves disease states such as a lowering of blood pressure in hypertension, a reduction of breathing disturbances with improved cardiac function in heart failure (HF) and a re-balancing of autonomic activity with lowered sympathetic discharge. Given this, we have reviewed the mechanisms of carotid body hyper-sensitivity and hyper-tonicity across disease models asking whether there is uniqueness related to specific disease states. Our analysis indicates some commonalities and some potential differences, although not all mechanisms have been fully explored across all disease models. One potential commonality is that of hypoperfusion of the carotid body across hypertension and HF, where the excessive sympathetic drive may reduce blood flow in both models and, in addition, lowered cardiac output in HF may potentiate the hypoperfusion state of the carotid body. Other mechanisms are explored that focus on neurotransmitter and signalling pathways intrinsic to the carotid body (e.g. ATP, carbon monoxide) as well as extrinsic molecules carried in the blood (e.g. leptin); there are also transcription factors found in the carotid body endothelium that modulate its activity (Krüppel-like factor 2). The evidence to date fully supports that a better understanding of the mechanisms of carotid body pathophysiology is a fruitful strategy for informing potential new treatment strategies for many cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic diseases, and this is highly relevant clinically.
Project description:Removal of carotid body (CB) improves animal models of hypertension (HTN) and heart failure, via withdrawal of chemoreflex-induced sympathetic activation. Effect of CB tumor (CBT) resection on blood pressure (BP) in subjects with HTN is unknown. A retrospective analysis of 20 subjects with HTN (BP≥140/90 mmHg or anti-hypertensives use) out of 134 with CBT resection. Short-term (30 days from surgery) and long-term (slope of regressions on time over the entire follow-up) changes in BP and heart rate were adjusted for covariates (interval between readings, total follow-up, number of readings and changes in therapy). Age and duration of HTN were 56±4 and 9±5 years. Adjusted short-term decreases in systolic (SBP: -9.9±3.1, p<0.001) and pulse pressures (PP: -7.9±2.7, p<0.002) were significant and correlated with their respective long-term changes (SBP: r=0.47, p=0.047; PP: r=0.54, p=0.019). There was a strong relationship between adjusted short-term changes in SBP and PP (r=0.64, p<0.004). Six (50% of responders or 33% of the total) had short-term falls of SBP ≥10 mmHg and of PP ≥ 5 mmHg. First study to show that unilateral CBT resection is associated with sustained reduction of BP in hypertensive patients. Targeted CB chemoreflex removal could play a role in the therapy of human HTN.
Project description:IntroductionCarotid Body Tumors (CBTs) are slow-growing benign tumors. Therefore, surgical resection is considered in case of tumor growth. Timing of surgery is of the utmost importance as the risk of iatrogenic surgical complications increases when resecting larger tumors, whereas on the other hand resections for asymptomatic small CBT should be prevented. The primary aim of this study was to identify which tumor size or dimension is most accurate to predict nerve injury in patients undergoing resection of a CBT.Material and methodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent surgical resection of CBT at the university hospital in South-Holland. Baseline patient characteristics and tumor measurements were retrieved from the medical records. We assessed how the different methods of measuring the size of the tumor were interrelated using Pearson correlation. Logistic regression was used to assess which variables were independently associated with nerve injury, including age at surgery, Shamblin classification and those dimensions that captured different aspects of tumor size (rather than measuring the same as shown by high correlations) as possible independent variables.ResultsIn 125 patients, 143 CBT were resected whereof in 35 cases cranial nerve injury occurred, (transient in 16 cases and permanent in 19 cases). The risks for nerve injury increased with larger tumor size and Shamblin classification. Logistic regression analysis showed that the anterior-posterior (AP) diameter significantly increased the odds of a nerve injury, a doubling for every 1 cm increase in AP diameter (odds ratio [95%CI] 2.12[1.29-3.48], P-value=0.003.ConclusionThis study shows that measured tumor size in AP plane is a strong predictor for postoperative nerve injury of a CBT resection. This predictor can be used in daily clinic to give insight in operative risks. More research is needed in order to select the most appropriate time window for CBT resection.