Hypertension Treatment Shows Promise

Debbye Turner Bell Highlights A New Clinical Trial To Control Dangerously High Blood Pressure

(CBS)  High blood pressure, aka hypertension, affects 72 million Americans and is the cause of one in every eight deaths worldwide. But there just may be a new treatment out there for the millions of patients who can't control their blood pressure without medication.

Early Show correspondent Debbye Turner Bell went to Pittsburgh's Allegeny General Hospital to learn about a new device, and meet a very fortunate patient.

Hazel Daly is 70 years old and has been struggling with uncontrolled hypertension for years.

"When I got up in the morning, I didn't know if I could do anything for the day or not," Daly said.

Daly's blood pressure was consistently over 200 and at times above 300, keeping a normal life was next to impossible.

"Doctors didn't want me to move around, afraid I would explode," Daly said.

As her blood pressure remained uncontrolled, her risk of dying increased.

"How worried were you about her?" Bell asked Dr. George Sokos, cardiologist at Allegheny General Hospital.

"Very worried. Very worried to the point that we thought, you know, we need to do something. And luckily for us, we were involved in this study," Sokos said.

Daly joined a clinical trial that tests the effectiveness of a small implantable device no bigger than a cell phone that works to lower blood pressure.

"This box gets connected to these electrical leads through a simple wire. And this gets implanted in the chest," Sokos said.

The small battery pack sends electrical pulses through wires to the caratoid arteries. The brain interprets those pulses as a rise in blood pressure and in return works to counteract the rise and bring blood pressure back down.

"This device has been remarkable to this point," said Dr. Satish Muluk, Director of Vascular Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital.

The results so far have shown that 75 percent of the patients in the trial have seen a significant drop in blood pressure.

"I've been hospitalized just for high blood pressure on more than one occasion," said patient Tom Pariso, who received his implant five months ago. "Just knowing that it's down, you feel safer."

The implant has given Daly and Pariso a new lease on life.

"And how's her blood pressure?" Bell asked.

"Unbelievably controlled. It's amazing," Muluk said.

"I do more through the day without stopping and resting. It's given me a second chance on life," Daily said.

The clinical trial at the Cardiovascular Institute at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh is still looking for patients. For more information on taking part, click here.

[PC73]

I had my Rheos implant put in yesterday. I am really excited about the potential of not having to take any more bp medications.
If you have a family member or a friend with High Blood pressure encourage them to check this out.

[dak37]

I was the eighth person in the U.S. to receive the Rheos implant. I%u2019ve had the device for 3 = years. My results have been nothing short of a miracle. I%u2019m currently 37 years old and have been battling high blood pressure since I was 14. Before my implant I was taking 17 pills per day for my blood pressure and my 24 hour BP average was 180/96. It was hard to lead a normal life with that many medications and that high of pressure. I was always exhausted and run down. Currently I take 1 pill and my average BP is now 130/61. I now have a new lease on life. I have more energy to do things now that I couldn%u2019t do when I was a teen. Per my doctor I%u2019ve added 20 yrs to my life by getting my BP under control. My heart is functioning better and its size is now back in the normal range. I would highly recommend that if you are living with uncontrolled BP that you look into this study to see if it%u2019s right for you.

[drjamescrice]

I'm the first Rheos patient that was done at the University of Ky. Medical Center. My implant was placed Nov. 29,'07 and replaced with a newer model in Jan '09. I have not had any negative side effects since the day it was placed and was taken off my last blood pressure medication at my last check up. I have had chronic hypertension since at least the age of 23 and have been trying to get it under control with medication since age 50. I have been on seventeen different medications in the last 5 years with minor help but major side effects. The Rheos implant alone does as good as any of my prior medications but without any side effects. I would highly recommend it.

Dr. James C. Rice

[jaguar0]

Perhaps, DR Turner Bell, should share, an experience, dealing with hypertension,, of one of her patient, and how this treatment could have help then. Oh wait, DR BEll, is a vet! I guess it would not be relevant. So why is AN ANIMAL DOCTOR doing human medical stories?