Baroreflex Stimulation Versus Renal Denervation for Treatment of Hypertension: What Constitutes a Logical Comparison of These Interventions on Atrial Electrophysiology?

The autonomic nervous system is a primary modulator of blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac function, and imbalance of the parasympathetic and sympathetic arms of the autonomic nervous system underlies many forms of cardiovascular pathophysiology1. Heart failure and hypertension are often characterized by an excess of sympathetic nerve activity and elevated plasma catecholamine levels. Elevated catecholamines promote activation of the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system (RAAS). Pharmacologic efforts to treat autonomic imbalance have primarily focused on the use of beta-adrenergic receptor blockers and RAAS antagonists.