Effect of renal denervation on kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease

Aims Renal denervation (RDN) can reduce blood pressure (BP) and slow the decline of renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) up to one year. Whether this effect is maintained beyond 12 months and whether the magnitude of BP reduction affects estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is unknown. Methods and results We examined eGFR in 46 CKD patients (baseline eGFR ≤ 60 mL/min/1.73m²) on a yearly basis from 60 months before to 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after RDN. Ambulatory BP was measured before and after RDN. Linear mixed models analysis demonstrated a significant progressive decline in eGFR from months 60 to 12 months (− 15.47 ± 1.98 mL/min/1.73m², P < 0.0001) and from 12 months to baseline prior to RDN (− 3.41 ± 1.64 mL/min/1.73m², P = 0.038). Compared to baseline, RDN was associated with improved eGFR at 3 months (+ 3.73 ± 1.64 mL/min/1.73m², P = 0.02) and no significant changes at 6 (+ 2.54 ± 1.66 mL/min/1.73m², P = 0.13), 12 (+ 1.78 ± 1.64 mL/min/1.73m², P = 0.28), and 24 (− 0.24 ± 2.24 mL/min/1.73m², P = 0.91) months post procedure were observed. RDN significantly reduced daytime SBP from baseline to 24 months post procedure (148 ± 19 vs 136 ± 17 mm Hg, P = 0.03) for the entire cohort. Changes in SBP were unrelated to the eGFR changes at 6 (r = 0.033, P = 0.84), 12 (r = 0.01, P = 0.93) and 24 months (r = − 0.42, P = 0.17) follow-up. Conclusion RDN can slow further deterioration of renal function irrespective of BP lowering effects in CKD. RDN-induced inhibition of sympathetic outflow to the renal vascular bed may account for improved eGFR via alterations of intrarenal and glomerular hemodynamics.