Follow-up, study design and outcome parameters.

Renal sympathetic denervation has shown promise in treating hypertension resistant to drug therapy. This procedure lowers blood pressure via targeted attenuation of renal sympathetic tone. Up to now, it has also shown a favourable safety profile. Despite this, there is reason for cautious optimism, since longer follow-up is needed to address whether these effects may be considered definitive and to detect long-term side effects. To assess this, patients who have undergone this procedure should be submitted to a specific follow-up in centres of excellence in treating resistant hypertension.