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Since the current guidelines were published in 2018, a total of 5 sham-controlled high-quality studies evaluating renal denervation have been conducted and the results were published. These five studies clearly confirmed the efficacy and safety of renal denervation, which correspond to the knowledge of the Clinical Consensus Conference. Thus, an update of the guidelines for the treatment of arterial hypertension regarding the clinical significance of renal denervation is urgently necessary. For this reason, the position paper of the working group of the European Society of Hypertension on the current state of renal denervation was reviewed. An approval of this procedure can soon be expected. In Germany there is a diagnosis-related group (DRG) for the reimbursement of renal denervation, which was suspended due to the erroneous Symplicity 3 study. This DRG should be revived in practice by a structured process of the implementation of renal denervation. It will then be a joint task of treating physicians and specialists in certified centers to identify eligible patients. In the future, antihypertensive treatment will consist of three pillars: lifestyle measures, pharmacotherapy and interventional treatment. These three treatment options should not be regarded as competitive (which is better) but alternative (patient preference) and additive (the aim is blood pressure control). It is the task of the treating physician to provide the patient with the ideal treatment concept. Clearly, renal denervation will not replace antihypertensive pharmacotherapy; however, it can lead to a reduction of the drug burden and increase of patient adherence to medication. It represents an option of modern antihypertensive treatment and will also become increasingly more important in special patient groups., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and remains insufficiently controlled in Germany. The sham controlled Symplicity HTN-3 trial did meet its primary safety endpoint but failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint. Renal denervation can not replace established, well-proven therapies. It can only be used in selected truly resistant hypertensive patients as an additive approach and should be performed by specialized centers only. Randomized controlled trials are needed to further evaluate renal denervation., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Renal failure is common in patients with severe heart failure. This complex pathophysiological interaction has been classified as cardio-renal syndrome. In these patients hydropic decompensation is the main cause of hospitalization. In patients with refractory heart failure, characterized by diuretic resistance and congestion due to volume overload, ultrafiltration has to be considered. In acute decompensated heart failure with worsening of renal function, extracorporeal ultrafiltration is the preferred treatment modality. On the other hand, patients suffering from chronic decompensated heart failure, particularly patients with ascites, will profit from the treatment specific advantages of peritoneal ultrafiltration. Prerequisite for an optimized care of patients with cardio-renal syndrome is the close collaboration among intensive care doctors, cardiologists and nephrologists., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Arterial blood pressure is subject to a circadian rhythm that results in a fall of blood pressure during the night. In patients with diabetes, renal insufficiency, left-ventricular hypertrophy, sleep apnea, hypertension of pregnancy, and different forms of secondary hypertension a nocturnal fall of blood pressure is even abandoned or reverted. Diagnosis is made using 24-h blood pressure measurement, which is however used not frequently enough for a clinical assessment or adjustment of therapy. An adaption of the selection or the time of administration of antihypertensive drugs with respect to the circadian rhythm is beneficial to control blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular morbidity. This is particularly true for patients with an a non- or inverted dipping blood pressure pattern, in which the bedtime dosing may result in a normalization of blood pressure and restoration of a normal circadian rhythm. The present manuscript reviews the chronopharmacotherapy of arterial hypertension and grant practical recommendations for their translation into clinical practice., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Introduction: Prevention of cardiovascular disease is an important goal in clinical medicine and public health. In the process, the diagnosis of early end-organ damage is a priority beside the treatment of classic cardiovascular risk factors. To achieve this, the ophthalmoscopic examination of the retinal vessels plays a prominent role. Alternatively, the quantification of low quantities of albumin in the urine (microalbuminuria) allows the detection of early vascular damage in the kidney. The question is addressed as to whether these two methods are interchangeable or are rather complementary., Patients and Methods: We examined 226 members of the staff of the University Hospital Erlangen who volunteered to participate in a preventive campaign. A comprehensive history was taken, and height, weight and blood pressure were measured. Analysis of serum lipids and determination of the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were performed. Fotos of the central fundus were taken with a non-mydriatic camera and analysed by an experienced ophthalmologist in a standardised fashion. The risk for cardiovascular mortality within the next ten years was estimated from age, sex, blood pressure and serum cholesterol using the euroSCORE tables for Germany., Results: There was no signficant correlation between the arteriovenous ratio of the retinal vessels and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio. Neither parameter correlated with the euroSCORE Germany. Arteriovenous crossings and focal narrowing of the retinal vessels were associated signficantly with an elevated euroSCORE risk., Conclusions: In large population-based studies, the arteriovenous ratio and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio have been confirmed as markers of cardiovascular risk. In our study, there was no correlation between these two parameters. Thus, they seem to present independent risk markers. The presence of arteriovenous crossings and focal narrowing seems to be linked more closely to the classic cardiovascular risk factors from which the euroSCORE is calculated. The ophathlmolscopic examination of retinal vessels and the analysis of urinary albumin/creatinine ratio seem to complement rather than replace each other., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

This commentary summarizes the expert consensus and recommendations of the working group 'Herz und Niere' of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK), the German Society of Nephrology (DGfN) and the German Hypertension League (DHL) on renal denervation for antihypertensive treatment. Renal denervation is a new, interventional approach to selectively denervate renal afferent and efferent sympathetic fibers. Renal denervation has been demonstrated to reduce office systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension, defined as systolic office blood pressure ≥ 160 mm Hg and ≥ 150 mm Hg in patients with diabetes type 2, which should currently be used as blood pressure thresholds for undergoing the procedure. Exclusion of secondary hypertension causes and optimized antihypertensive drug treatment is mandatory in every patient with resistant hypertension. In order to exclude pseudoresistance, 24-hour blood pressure measurements should be performed. Preserved renal function was an inclusion criterion in the Symplicity studies, therefore, renal denervation should be only considered in patients with a glomerular filtration rate > 45 ml/min. Adequate centre qualification in both, treatment of hypertension and interventional expertise are essential to ensure correct patient selection and procedural safety. Long-term follow-up after renal denervation and participation in the German Renal Denervation (GREAT) Registry are recommended to assess safety and efficacy after renal denervation over time., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: The objective of the Snapshot Hypertension Registry (SHR) was to assess the quality of antihypertensive drug treatment in hypertensive patients seen by cardiologists on three consecutive days in December 2005., Methods: Full data sets were obtained for 7302 patients (89.9% of total returned) seen by 268 cardiologists. Mean age of hypertensive patients was 65.4 +/- 11.2 years, 62 % were male, and 93 % were referred to the cardiologist by a general practitioner., Results: Judging from their casual ("snapshot") blood pressure, 35.3 % were well treated (< 140/90 mm Hg). According to the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure even a lower rate of hypertensive patients, namely 27.6 %, had their blood pressure well controlled (< 130/80 mm Hg). Of all patients, 24 % were on monotherapy. Only 33.7 % of the patients on monotherapy were normotensive. Of all patients on a combination of drugs 36.9 % were normotensive according to the casual blood pressure measurements. Private patients were prescribed angiotensin receptor blockers more frequently than patients who only had statutory health insurance., Conclusions: The Snapshot Registry analysis revealed that the casual blood pressure in the majority of hypertensive patients who were reviewing antihypertensive medication was not in the normotensive range. In addition, our data demonstrate that evidence-based antihypertensive medication was often not adequately used in Germany.

Background and Objective: Lack of compliance is a common problem in the treatment of hypertension. Ineffective physician-patient-communication and a lack of patients involvement can play a crucial role. We tested the hypothesis that shared decision-making (SDM) results in higher involvement of patients in their blood pressure lowering therapy and evaluated the effects of SDM on the control of blood pressure., Patients and Methods: Two groups of 84 hypertensives were compared: an intervention group (26 women and 13 men, age 61 +/- 10 years) treated by 15 specially SDM-trained primary care physicians, and a control group of 45 hypertensives. All 84 patients were enrolled in a patient education programme. Changes of blood pressure were assessed after one year by self-measurements. Questionnaires about their attitude to patient autonomy, the SDM process, quality of life, physician-patient-relationship and life-style changes were analysed as well., Results: After one year the blood pressure had decreased in both the intervention group (-9.26 +/- 10.2/-5.3 +/- 9.5 mmHg, p < 0.001) and in the control group (-6.0 +/- 11.8/-3.0 +/- 8.3 mmHg, p < 0.05), without a significant difference between the two groups. Among a subgroup of patients with a marked preference for SDM there was a close correlation between an increase of SDM and a decrease in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.016). Also, the numbers of antihypertensive drugs increased more in the intervention group (p = 0.022) than in control patients. Furthermore, increase in knowledge about hypertension and its treatment was greater in the intervention group (P=0.006)., Conclusion: Implementation of SDM had a significant effect on systolic blood pressure control only in the subgroup of patients with marked preference for SDM. Thus, the identification of patients with a preference for SDM may improve blood pressure control and their adherence to the prescribed drug therapy.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria have an elevated risk of developing diabetic nephropathy or cardiovascular complications. The effectiveness of AT1 blockers, in particular irbesartan, in these patients has been confirmed in controlled clinical studies. AIM, METHOD: An observational study involving 500 general practitioners and 9057 patients was carried out to establish which therapeutic aims can be achieved under realistic day-to-day conditions. Inclusion criteria were type 2 diabetes, hypertension > 140/90 mmHg and current treatment with irbesartan or irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide (HTCZ). The observational study covered a period of 6 months., Results: A blood pressure measurement < or = 130/80 mmHgwas considered optimal, and the target blood pressure was defined as < or = 140/90 mmHg. At the time of the baseline examination, the systolic pressure was outside the target in 80% of the patients, and outside the optimal range in 92%. At the second control measurement the respective figures were 37% and 69%. The diastolic blood pressure was outside the target pressure in 43 % (initially) and in 7% (second measurement) of the patients, and outside the optimal range in 77% (initially) and 43% (second measurement). At the start of the study, microalbuminuria was exhibited by 66.5% of the patients and after 6 months in 50.9%., Conclusion: The observational study confirmed the good effect of irbesartan and irbesartan/HCTZ, and the benefit of effective medication and intensive standardized care.

Background and Objective: Early specialist care of patients with renal disease, including timely and planned onset of dialysis, determine the course of the disease, quality of life, hospitalization and life expectancy. A multi-centre enquiry by standardized questionnaire was undertaken to define and analyse medical care of newly dialysis-requiring patients., Patients and Methods: Data on 551 patients in five different regions of Germany who for the first time required renal replacement treatment were prospectively collected between July 2002 and March 2003. Documentation of history, clinical findings and biochemical tests was done on consecutive patients with a standardized questionnaire, until the desired number of cases was reached., Results: The mean age of the patients (55.4% males) was 64.8 years. 30.7% had diabetes mellitus, 22.3% arterial hypertension/nephrosclerosis and 16.9% glomerulonephritis/vasculitis. Early predominantly nephrological care had been undertaken in 38.7% of patients. 59.0% were cared for almost exclusively by their general practitioner until the time when dialysis was started. 229 patients (41.6%) were referred to specialist (nephrologists) only when dialysis had become necessary. The onset of dialysis was at the right time in only 50.5% of this group. Comparing the care given by nephrologists with that by general practitioners, elective (i.e. planned) dialysis was begun in 81.0% vs. 48.0% (p<0.05). Hospitalization in the two groups was 54.5% vs. 83.7% (p<0.05), the duration of hospital stay 11.4 vs. 17.4 days (p<0.05)., Conclusion: Fewer than 40% of patients with chronic renal disease in preterminal renal failure (stage IV) were under the care of nephrologists. The lower the degree of nephrological care the more frequent was there a delay in the onset of dialysis treatment. The incidence and the duration of hospital stay was longer. Structured treatment pathways and incentives need to be formulated to reduce the incidence of wrong or substandard treatment of patients with impaired renal function.

Background and Objective: The burden of insufficiently treated arterial hypertension is still underestimated. During 1998 to 1999 we conducted an intensive training program in cooperation with regional practitioners. The aim of this program was to educate the patients about their disease and motivate them to comply with therapy. The effectivity of this program yet needs to be evaluated., Patients and Methods: 146 patients (mean age 62 years; 57 male, 89 female) with arterial hypertension were trained. They received 8 training units of 90 min each. Before training and 6 months after training data concerning health status and life style risk factors were assessed with questionnaires., Results: There was a marked reduction in blood pressure after 6 months (152/89 mmHg vs 145/85 mmHg, p < 0.001). The mean body weight also declined on the average by 0.9 kg (p < 0.001). Physical exercise spent per week increased from mean 2.0 to 2.8 hours (p < 0.01). Moreover, knowledge about hypertension increased (p < 0.001). The established questionnaire SF-36 revealed a better score for vitality (p < 0.05) six months after therapy than before., Conclusion: Our intensive training program of patients with arterial hypertension has profound effects on their systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It also motivates patients to change life style. Our data suggest that intensive training programs should be developed on a widespread basis.

A target parameter for a cardiovascular risk in patients with hypertension is the lowering of the blood pressure. In 1999, the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and WHO published new recommendations and redefined normal blood pressure values. When deciding the question what antihypertensive treatment for what patient, concomitant risk factors, hypertension related organ damage and contraindications must all be taken into account. The results of large prospective studies apply only in part for the majority of ambulatory patients. For the effective application of these recommendations and guidelines in the doctor's office, considerably more importance must be attached to the cooperation of all their "users"--including family doctors--when they are being established by a specialist society.