People with spinal cord injuries often struggle with dangerous blood pressure swings because their brain can no longer properly regulate cardiovascular function.
This instability leaves them vulnerable to sudden drops that can cause fainting, or spikes that raise the risk of stroke and heart attack.
A Breakthrough Implant
Researchers have developed a spinal implant that delivers precise electrical stimulation to help stabilize blood pressure in these patients. Reported in Nature and Nature Medicine, the system is controlled through a smartphone app and has shown promising results.
Dr. Ilse van Nes, who deployed the system at the Sint Maartens Clinic in Nijmegen, Netherlands, said patients reported reduced brain fog, increased energy, louder speech, and fewer post-meal energy crashes.
Real-Life Impact on Patients
One patient, identified as Krebs, shared how the device transformed his daily life:
- Before the implant, transferring from bed to wheelchair often triggered dangerous blood pressure drops.
- He also suffered spikes due to severe nerve pain, leading to sweating and migraines.
- After receiving the implant, Krebs experienced more stable blood pressure, improved clarity, and fewer dangerous fluctuations.
How the Implant Works
The research team studied the spinal cord’s neuronal structures responsible for uncontrolled blood pressure elevations. They found that targeted spinal cord stimulation could effectively counteract this, safely restoring balance.
Senior researcher Gregoire Courtine, director of the NeuroRestore Center at EPFL in Switzerland, explained that the implant competes with problematic neural signals to regulate blood pressure precisely.
Clinical Testing Across Countries
The team analyzed nearly 1,500 patients with spinal cord injuries, many of whom faced long-term cardiovascular issues. They then tested the implant in 14 patients across three medical centers in Canada, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Results showed that the implant restored healthy blood pressure levels within minutes of activation. According to senior researcher Aaron Phillips from the University of Calgary, the therapy proved effective across different countries and clinical protocols.
Safe and Proven Technology
Spinal stimulators already have an established safety record in treating chronic pain, making them a suitable candidate for this new use.
Dr. Fady Girgis, a University of Calgary neurosurgeon, emphasized the immediate impact:
“We’ve seen very impressive and immediate improvements in blood pressure that are evident as soon as the device is turned on intra-operatively.”
Looking Ahead
For patients like Krebs, the implant offers newfound stability and quality of life. As the research progresses, experts believe this therapy could be widely adopted, offering hope to thousands of people living with spinal cord injuries and the dangerous blood pressure problems that come with them.
