Could a simple throat procedure cure millions of high blood
pressure? Removal of two tiny nodules found to treat condition
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2410233/Could-simple-throat-procedure-cure-high-blood-pressure.html
A simple procedure could combat high blood pressure in
millions of hard-to-treat patients.
The novel approach, which involves removing two rice-sized
nerve endings linked to blood pressure regulation, has already been
successfully tested on rats.
Scientists are optimistic the revolutionary procedure will
also be effective in human patients who cannot control the condition with
medication.
Known as the silent killer, high blood pressure or
hypertension affects a third of adults, and significantly raises the odds of
heart attacks, strokes and other potentially fatal conditions if left
untreated.
Currently there is no known effective treatment for high
blood pressure in individuals who do not respond to conventional drug
therapies.
Lead researcher Professor Julian Paton, from Bristol's School
of Physiology and
Pharmacology, said: 'In rats with high blood pressure it acted as a cure.
Whether this translates to humans remains to be seen, but we are very hopeful.
'It certainly has the potential to be a very novel
interventional approach to drug resistant hypertension [high blood pressure].'
An estimated 16 million British adults have high blood pressure, although a
third of these are unaware they have the condition.
After initial diagnosis, patients are advised to alter their
lifestyle to take in more exercise, stop smoking, and limit the salt, alcohol
and fat in their diet.
If this approach fails, their GP will place them on
medication, which often involves a combination of pills to combat the
condition. However, most medications can produce side effects, meaning many
patients fail to take them regularly.
And up to 15 per cent of patients - up to 2.5 million people
- with high blood pressure struggle to control their condition using drugs.
After successful lab trials on rodents, scientists from Bristol University are 'very hopeful' this new
intervention can help cure the disease in hard-to-treat individuals and have
already started a clinical trials with 20 high blood pressure patients.
If successful, the procedure could be available as a
'relatively simple day treatment' in a little as three years for adults with
uncontrollable hypertension.
The carotid body, a small cluster of nerve cells found on
the side of each carotid artery that run down both sides of the throat,
regulates the amount of oxygen and carbon-dioxide in the blood.
But recent research has implicated the organ in the
development and regulation of high blood pressure.
In the British Heart Foundation (BHF)-funded study, published
in the journal Nature Communications, the team removed the tiny organs in rats
with hypertension, and found blood pressure fell and remained low.
Professor Paton said the animals suffered no adverse side
effects following the surgery.
'We knew that these tiny organs behaved differently in
conditions of hypertension but had absolutely no idea that they contributed so
massively to the generation of high blood pressure; this is really most
exciting,' he said.
'Despite its small size the carotid body has the highest
blood flow of any organ in the body. Its influence on blood pressure likely
reflects the priority of protecting the brain with enough blood flow.
'This is an extremely proud moment for my research team as
it is rare that this type of research can so quickly fuel a human clinical
trial.' Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British
Heart Foundation, said: 'This research, in rats, has found that blocking
special nerve endings in the neck significantly reduces blood pressure.
'This potential new treatment has real promise to help this
hard-to-treat group of patients. Many patients can control their blood pressure
adequately by lifestyle change and medication so they would not be offered this
kind of treatment. It is therefore unlikely this treatment will ever be tested
as an alternative to standard medication - only as an extra procedure when
current drug treatment fails.'
Dr Tim Chico, consultant cardiologist at Sheffield Teaching
Hospitals, said: 'This is an exciting and innovative approach to a major health
problem. Current treatments for high blood pressure have serious drawbacks;
no-one likes taking multiple tablets and medics are often guilty of not
explaining properly why treatment is needed and what benefits might be
expected.
'It may be an important step towards a surgical procedure to
be used alongside, or even replace drug treatment. It's worth remembering high
blood pressure can be preventable with a better lifestyle, so although we need
new treatments, it's unfortunate that these treatments simply address the
consequences of a poor diet, lack of exercise, and being overweight.'