Computed tomography-guided ozone neurolysis lowers blood pressure

The regulation of blood pressure is closely linked to sympathetic activity. This retrospective study analyzed 142 hypertensive patients undergoing computed tomography (CT)-guided O 2 -O 3 neurolysis targeting intervertebral foramina or lumbar paravertebral ganglia for pain management. Results demonstrated significant reductions in both postoperative in-hospital blood pressure and office blood pressure during follow-up alongside decreased antihypertensive medication use. Notably, blood pressure reduction showed independence from pain relief but exhibited strong anatomical correlation with renal sympathetic innervation, specifically with the lower thoracic vertebral level (T9-T12) and the upper lumbar vertebral level (L1-L2). The findings suggest that modulation of thoracolumbar sympathetic pathways through minimally invasive gas neurolysis may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for hypertension management, potentially offering a targeted approach for renal sympathetic denervation. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these observations.