Resistant hypertension: Epidemiological and evolving therapeutic concepts

Resistant hypertension is a clinical condition characterized by the inability of antihypertensive treatment to achieve blood pressure control. The main features of this condition are its complex pathophysiological background, its not infrequent occurrence in clinical practice, and the difficulty in implementing an adequate therapeutic approach. This chapter, after briefly recalling the main epidemiological, pathophysiological, and clinical features of the disease, focuses on the pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions, with special emphasis on carotid baroreceptor stimulation and the renal denervation procedure. The pros and cons of each of these interventions are discussed.