Aliskiren, a Direct Renin Inhibitor, in Clinical Practice: A New Approach in the Treatment of Hypertension

OBJECTIVE: Arterial hypertension is an important risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of hypertension and associated complications. Direct renin inhibitors (DRIs) are novel antihypertensive drugs which inhibit the first step of RAAS. Aliskiren is the first orally active DRI approved as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive agents for the treatment of hypertension. SCOPE: This article reviews the efficacy and safety of aliskiren as monotherapy and in combination with other antihypertensive agents and comments on its potential role in clinical practice. METHODS: Relevant articles were identified through a PubMed search (up to 17 August 2009). FINDINGS: Aliskiren, used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents, has a favourable effect on blood pressure (BP). Specifically, aliskiren is equally effective with other RAAS inhibitors and probably superior to hydrochlorothiazide in the reduction of systolic and diastolic BP. The combination of aliskiren with other antihypertensive drugs seems to be an effective and safe therapeutic option. In addition, aliskiren may have favourable effects in terms of ameliorating several microvascular and macrovascular complications of hypertension and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Aliskiren appears to be an effective and safe antihypertensive drug. Whether the BP lowering effect of aliskiren is associated with improvements in cardiovascular outcomes remains to be elucidated.