Human Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation Reduces Sympathetic Outflow and Long-Term Blood Pressure.

This study hypothesized that dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation would reduce sympathetic nerve activity and would alter hemodynamic variables. This study directly recorded muscle sympathetic nerve activity during ON and OFF stimulation of the DRG while measuring hemodynamic parameters. DRG stimulation significantly reduced the firing frequency of sympathetic nerves, as well as significantly reducing blood pressure, with greater reductions evident when stimulation was left-sided. Left-sided DRG stimulation lowers sympathetic nerve activity, leading to long-term phenotypic changes. This raises the potential of DRG stimulation being used to treat de novo autonomic disorders such as hypertension or heart failure.
Competing Interests: This study was supported by an unrestricted research grant from Spinal Modulation Inc. and the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre. Dr. Kent was employed by Abbott at the time of the study and provided technical support for the study. Drs. FitzGerald and Green have received occasional honoraria from Abbott (primarily for teaching courses about dorsal root ganglion stimulation). All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.
(© 2020 The Authors.)