Transcranial focused ultrasound as a treatment for hypertension

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals currently used for reducing blood pressure prove ineffective for many patients. As well, although hypertension is the most common disorder in pregnancy, many anti-hypertension drugs pose significant risks associated with restricted fetal growth, decreased uteroplacental blood flow, and fetal loss. Deep brain stimulation of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) region has shown promise in treating drug-resistant hypertension in patients. However, a non-invasive approach would carry far fewer risks, particularly during pregnancy. Our work has explored the potential of focused ultrasound (FUS), targeted to the PAG region, to reduce blood pressure. In a rodent model of hypertension, FUS delivered to the PAG successfully reduced high blood pressure to within the normal range. By comparing treatment regimes, we have also investigated the mechanisms underlying this reduction in blood pressure and ways to prolong the effect. This approach could point towards a new treatment for hypertension that has greater safety and broader applicability for vulnerable patient populations.