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.
Keywords: ABP, ambulatory blood pressure; ASBP, ambulatory systolic blood pressure; BRS, baroreceptor reflex sensitivity; CB, carotid body; HRV, heart rate variability; HVR, hypoxic ventilatory response; MSNA, muscle sympathetic nerve activity; OBP, office blood pressure; OSBP, office systolic blood pressure; afferent drive; baroreceptor reflex; hypertension; hypoxia; peripheral chemoreceptor; sympathetic nervous system; uCB, unilateral carotid body.