Renal denervation may not benefit patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

The New York Times (3/30, Grady, Subscription Publication) reported on the unexpected finding of “a landmark study” that found renal denervation may not benefit individuals with uncontrolled hypertension. The study of 535 patients split them into groups that received the actual procedure or a fake procedure that was designed to fool patients. After six months, “both groups experienced drops in blood pressure, but there was no significant difference.”

        Reuters (3/31, Emery, Berkrot) reports that the study was presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

        Forbes (3/30) contributor Larry Husten wrote that the researchers “noted that despite the widespread hype, enough information was available to predict that the trial would not produce the large, dramatic reductions in BP that many experts had predicted.” Medscape (3/30, O'Riordan) also covers the story.