Targeting aldosterone to improve cardiorenal outcomes: from nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists to aldosterone synthase inhibitors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Aldosterone dysregulation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease. Traditionally, steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists, namely spironolactone and eplerenone, have been the only available options to target aldosterone. Over recent years, a host of promising novel aldosterone-targeted pharmacologic agents have been developed thereby providing new options to mitigate aldosterone-mediated cardiovascular and kidney disease. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently, a number of nonsteroidal MR antagonists (finerenone, esaxerenone, and ocedurenone) and highly specific aldosterone synthase inhibitors (baxdrostat, lorundrostat, dexfadrostat, and vicadrostat) have been developed. The early clinical data for these novel medications looks promising regarding their efficacy in improving blood pressure control, preventing adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and slowing chronic kidney disease progression. Moreover, they appear to be generally safe and well tolerated. SUMMARY: In the coming years, nonsteroidal MR antagonists and aldosterone synthase inhibitors are likely to play an increasingly large role in routine medical practice to help improve cardiovascular and kidney outcomes.