Sympathetic Mapping/ Ablation of Renal Nerves Trial

This is a prospective, multicenter, single blind, randomized and sham controlled trial, in which patients are diagnosed with essential hypertension with at least six months of the disease history and pharmacotherapy however their blood pressure still cannot be controlled. The patients will be informed, consent and get into a screening process. During the screening period patients will receive a standardized antihypertensive drug treatment for at least 28 days and office systolic blood pressure is still ≥ 150mmHg, ≤180mmHg, and meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These patients will conduct renal artery angiography and be allocated to either renal sympathetic nerve denervation group or renal artery angiography group by a randomizing system in a 1:1 ratio (220 patients, 110 pairs). Patients with office systolic blood pressure which is not achieved ideal level (<140 mmHg) will titrate doses or classes of antihypertensive drugs according to a predefined standardized medication regimen until their office systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg, whereas in principle patients should follow the drug titration regimen, however, it is allowed to adjust antihypertensive medications per the real-world needs after 12 months.

Physicians who perform post-procedure patient management and physicians who perform renal denervation procedures are blinded to each other.

Patients will be followed at 7 days after the procedure or at discharge from hospital, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12months, 24months, 36 months, 48 months and 60 months for blood pressure measurements and antihypertensive medications. Urine samples will be collected for drug tests (LC-MS/MS) to determine drug compliance of a patient by an independent laboratory.

Data collecting/management/statistical analysis and laboratory tests will be done by independent, qualified organizations. Independent DSMB/CEC are formed and responsible for assessments of protocol deviations and natures of SAEs.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and non-pregnant female subjects, 18≤age≤65
• Essential hypertension
• Office systolic blood pressure ≥150mmHg and ≤180mmHg; and resting heart rate ≥70 bpm without taking beta blocker(Resting heart rate does not taken into account if beta blocker is taken)
• Average 24-hour ABPM systolic blood pressure ≥130mmHg, or ABPM systolic blood pressure during daytime ≥ 135mmHg, or ABPM systolic blood pressure during nighttime ≥ 120mmHg
• History of hypertension is longer than 6 months
• Patient with poor blood pressure control after 6 months of antihypertensive drug therapy, understands the purpose of this study, and is willing to participate and sign the Informed Consent; then the patient receives standard antihypertensive drug treatment (at least two drugs) for at least 28 days, drug compliance ≥80%, office systolic blood pressure ≥150 mmHg and ≤180 mmHg.
• Patient is compliant and willing to complete clinical follow-up.

Exclusion criteria

• Renal artery anatomy is unqualified including： (1) diameter <4mm or treatable length <25mm， (2) multiple renal arteries and the main renal artery supplies a fraction of the blood flow less than 75%, (3) renal artery stenosis >50% or any renal artery aneurysms on either side, (4) history of renal artery PTA, including balloon angioplasty and stenting.
• eGFR <45mL/min/1.73m2 (MDRD formula)
• Hospitalized within one year due to hypertensive crisis
• Average 24-hour systolic blood pressure <130mmHg and ABPM systolic blood pressure during daytime ≤ 135mmHg, and ABMP systolic blood pressure during nighttime ≤ 120mmHg
• Pulse pressure >80mmHg
• During running in period, using antihypertensive drugs other than standardized antihypertensive drugs
• Participated other clinical trials including both drug and medical device studies within 3 months from current study
• Female with pregnant or lactating, or having plans for pregnancy within 1 year
• Patient with sleep apnea who needs chronic oxygen-breathing or mechanical ventilation support (for example, tracheostomy)
• Patients previously or currently suffering from following diseases:

(1) essential pulmonary arterial hypertension, (2) type I diabetes, (3) patients with severe cardiac valvular stenosis who have contradictions and cannot rolerant to significantly reduce blood pressure, (4) within half year, patients had myocardial infraction, unstable angina, syncope or cerebrovascular accidents, (5) history of primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, aorta stenosis, hyperthyroidism or hyperparathyreosis, (6) any disease conditions interfering the measurement of blood pressure (for instance, severe peripheral artery diseases, abdominal artery aneurysm, hemorrhagic disorders such as thrombocytopenia, hemophilia and severe anemia), (7) plans to have surgery or cardiovascular interventions within 6 months, (8) alcohol abuse or unknown drug dependence history, (9) neuroticisms such as depression or anxiety disorders, (10) non-compliant patients who are unable to follow the study protocol per physician's requests.

• Any contradictions to conduct renal artery stimulation and ablation