The thrill of success: central arterial-venous anastomosis for hypertension

Excess blood pressure remains the most important risk factor for cardiovascular and renal disease. Poly pharmacy has been proved safe and effective under clinical trial circumstances; however, the majority of patients fail to sustain pharmaceutical persistence and adherence. The opportunity to offer patients a treatment or device in addition or perhaps instead of drug therapy alone may significantly broaden the options for patients and allow greater success in hypertensive therapy. In this review, we examine the potential of a fixed-volume central arterial-venous anastomosis to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients, review possible mechanisms by which the anastomosis may reduce blood pressure, and consider the unique clinical trial opportunities posed by this therapy.