Health & Safety
Ear Stimulation Therapy Shows Promise for Severe High Blood Pressure
A new non-invasive treatment reduced systolic blood pressure by approximately 12 mmHg in patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension, according to recent trial results.
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THE PRIMARY BRIEF
- 01 · The primary finding
The SCRATCH-HTN clinical trial found that transcutaneous autonomic neuromodulation (tAN) therapy reduced systolic blood pressure by approximately 12 mmHg in a pre-specified subgroup of patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension (baseline SBP > 160 mmHg), despite not achieving its primary endpoint for the overall study population.
- 02 · The primary evidence
The findings, published September 28, 2026, in the journal *Hypertension*, indicate that the tAN device was safe, well-tolerated, and easy for patients to use at home, with high adherence rates.
- 03 · Why it matters
This suggests tAN could be a potential non-invasive treatment option for patients with severe hypertension who currently have limited choices, though larger studies are needed to confirm these results and identify optimal patient groups.
A new non-invasive therapy stimulating nerves through the ear reduced systolic blood pressure by approximately 12 mmHg in patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension, according to results from the SCRATCH-HTN clinical trial published September 28, 2026. This therapy, known as transcutaneous autonomic neuromodulation (tAN), showed promise in a specific subgroup despite not meeting its primary endpoint for the overall study population.
For individuals whose high blood pressure remains uncontrolled despite medication, non-invasive treatments offer a potential new avenue for management. The demonstrated safety and ease of use could make this approach an accessible option for patients needing further blood pressure reduction.
What the Records Show
The SCRATCH-HTN trial, a phase 2a study, investigated the safety, acceptability, and efficacy of tAN. While the overall study did not find a significant difference in blood pressure reduction between the active treatment and sham groups across all participants, a pre-specified subgroup analysis yielded different results. This analysis focused on patients who started the trial with more severe hypertension, specifically those with a baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than 160 mmHg. In this group, tAN therapy led to an improvement of about 12 mmHg in blood pressure. The tAN device was found to be safe and well-tolerated. Patients reported the device was easy to use at home, and adherence rates were high. No serious adverse device effects were reported.
Trial Timeline
The detailed findings of the SCRATCH-HTN trial were published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension on September 28, 2026. The study's protocol had been previously outlined in publications including medRxiv and Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, with details appearing by December 15, 2025.
Potential Impact
These findings suggest that tAN could be a treatment option for patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension who struggle to lower their blood pressure through conventional means. Researchers noted that the technique could warrant further investigation for this specific demographic.
What We Could Not Confirm
Larger studies are required to confirm these results and to precisely identify which patient groups are most likely to benefit from tAN therapy. Researchers have called for future trials specifically designed to establish the efficacy in these target populations.
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