Ascension Providence Researching Blood Pressure Treatment

Ascension Providence Hospital is researching a novel approach to treat uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Known as the SPYRAL HTN Pivotal Trial, it’s aimed at establishing whether a renal denervation system is safe and effective in lowering blood pressure in patient’s not currently taking medication for high blood pressure. Renal denervation is a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure intended to regulate the activity of nerves that lead to and from the kidney, which plays an important role in managing blood pressure. These nerves are part of the sympathetic nervous system, which helps the body control blood pressure. In people with hypertension, the renal nerves are hyperactive, raising blood pressure and contributing to heart, kidney and blood vessel damage.

This trial is part of the broader SPYRAL HTN Global Clinical Program, a multi-phased clinical study strategy aimed to establish the safety and efficacy of renal denervation to lower blood. Initial study results, presented at the 2018 EuroPCR Annual Meeting in Paris and published simultaneously in The Lancet, found statistically significant and clinically important blood pressure reductions in hypertensive patients prescribed anti-hypertension medications treated with the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system with no major adverse safety events out to six months. Ascension Providence took part in that trial.

“More than 70 million Americans are living with high blood pressure. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular death, says cardiologist, Shukri David, M.D., the co-principal of the study at Ascension Providence Hospital, along with Ascension Providence nephrologist, Dr. Susan Steigerwalt. “It’s a disease that dramatically increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure.”

The SPYRAL HTN Pivotal Trial is a randomized, sham-controlled study. The trial will enroll more than 400 patients at 50 sites in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Japan. In addition to Ascension Providence, Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital is also taking part in the clinical trial. Those interested in more information about the trial should call 248-849-3369.

In Michigan, Ascension operates 15 hospitals and hundreds of related healthcare facilities that together employ approximately 26,000 associates. Across the state, Ascension provided almost $230 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in FY2017. Serving Michigan for over 140 years, Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2017, Ascension provided more than $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 165,000 associates and 34,000 aligned providers. Ascension’s Healthcare Division operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 153 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 22 states and the District of Columbia, while its Solutions Division provides a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, facilities management, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization.