Stereotaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: STXS) announced today the first-ever use of its Niobe® Magnetic Navigation System in a renal artery ablation procedure for the treatment of chronic hypertension that was not treatable with medication. This procedure was performed by Petr Neuzil, MD, PhD, Head of Cardiology and Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at the Na Homolce Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic.
The patient was considered at high risk, having previously suffered both a massive heart attack and a stroke. He had been treated for hypertension for 8 years and had an average blood pressure during the day of 182/94 and 166/85 during the night despite treatment with five different medications. Using an irrigated magnetic catheter and an advanced electroanatomic mapping system, Prof. Neuzil was able to accurately map both left and right renal arteries and deliver precise lesions to disengage the sympathetic nerve endings. A follow up visit at 3 months after the procedure demonstrated that this patient's average blood pressure had been reduced to 153/78 during the day and 148/75 at night.
An increase in activity of the sympathetic nerves leading to the kidneys is a key factor in the development of hypertension. The consequences of this increased nerve activity include sodium and water retention, increased enzyme release, and a change in the blood flow to the kidneys, all of which are associated with an increase in blood pressure. Using advanced catheter navigation techniques, interventional physicians are able to disable the sympathetic nerves by delivering bursts of radiofrequency energy to the inside of the renal arteries. This technique, called "denervation," has been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure and minimize or eliminate the need for medication.
"Stereotaxis' integrated technology represents a potentially significant advance in the ability to perform renal denervation procedures," said Prof. Neuzil. "With the combined capability of advanced mapping and precise magnetic navigation, I was able to identify the target tissue and safely deliver low-energy therapeutic lesions with minimal need for contrast and radiation."
"Hypertension, which affects approximately 1 of every 4 adults worldwide, represents a significant healthcare burden," said Michael P. Kaminski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stereotaxis. "For those patients who do not respond to medication and are good candidates for ablative therapy, we believe Stereotaxis has the potential to provide an innovative solution to help their physician deliver a definitive treatment to help control their high blood pressure."
It is estimated that nearly one billion people worldwide suffer from hypertension. Renal denervation to treat severe hypertension is a novel use of Stereotaxis magnetic navigation in its current commercial configuration that requires further evaluation. Prof. Neuzil's study clearly supports the feasibility of this technique and provides momentum for future investigation.
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