Quick procedure could cure high blood pressure
A team of doctors have developed a quick and minimally invasive procedure that could help people with a hidden cause of high blood pressure.
The new treatment targets tiny, hormone-producing nodules in the adrenal glands, which are responsible for high blood pressure in about 1 in 20 people.
Currently, treating this condition — called primary aldosteronism — often requires surgery to remove an entire adrenal gland, involving a hospital stay and long recovery. However, this new method is much simpler.
The new method has been developed by experts from Queen Mary University of London, Barts Health NHS Trust, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge.
Doctors first use a specially developed PET scan to pinpoint the tiny nodules. Then, using an ultrasound-guided fine needle, they apply short bursts of heat to destroy the problem areas in just 10 to 20 minutes. This avoids major surgery, speeds up recovery, and preserves the healthy parts of the adrenal gland.
A trial of 28 patients showed promising results and that the procedure appeared safe and could successfully target and destroy the harmful nodules. After six months, most had normal hormone levels, and some no longer needed blood pressure medication.
Michelina Alfieri, one of the patients at Barts Health, said: "I had suffered debilitating headaches for years, despite numerous GP visits. This new procedure was non-invasive, and my recovery was almost immediate. I could return to my normal routine straight away. I thank the team for giving me a choice."
Morris Brown, co-senior author of the study, Professor of Endocrinology at Barts Health as well as Professor of Endocrine Hypertension at Queen Mary University of London, said: “It is 70 years since the discovery, in London, of the hormone aldosterone, and, a year later, of the first patient with severe hypertension due to an aldosterone-producing tumour. This patient’s doctor, Jerome Conn, predicted, with only minor exaggeration, that 10-20% of all hypertensions might be due to nodules in one or both glands. We are delighted to enable a 21st century overhaul of how the condition is diagnosed and treated, using methods that are potentially available in any major hospital worldwide.”
The study, published in The Lancet, has paved the way for a larger clinical trial, which will compare this technique to traditional surgery. The results are expected in 2027, offering hope for a quicker, more accessible cure for many people with high blood pressure.
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