Renal sympathetic denervation prevents the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension and cardiac dysfunction in dogs

The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system is activated in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients, and this activation may have long-term negative effects on the progression of PAH. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of transcatheter renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) on the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension and cardiac dysfunction in dogs using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging. Twenty-two dogs were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n = 7), PAH group (n = 8), and PAH + RSD group (n = 7). All dogs were assessed using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging. The ventricular strain, ventricular synchrony, left ventricular (LV) twist, and torsion rate were analyzed to evaluate cardiac function. After 8 weeks, the right ventricular lateral longitudinal strain and the septum longitudinal strain were reduced in the PAH group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). However, these values were significantly restored in the PAH + RSD group compared with the PAH group (p < 0.01). The degree of LV and RV dyssynchrony was significantly higher in the PAH group compared with the control group (p < 0.001), but the degree of LV and RV dyssynchrony was significantly lower in the PAH + RSD group compared to the PAH group (p < 0.01). The LV twist was significantly restored in the PAH + RSD group compared to the PAH group (p < 0.01). Similarly, the rotation rate was markedly decreased in the PAH group, and strikingly improved in the PAH + RSD group (p < 0.01). These results indicate that RSD prevents the development of PAH and cardiac dysfunction in dogs.