Aliskiren, the first renin inhibitor, offers potential differences from existing renin-angiotensin system blockers, including interactions with the newly discovered (pro)renin receptor.
What are the mechanisms, clinical effects, and safety profile of renin inhibitors compared to existing RAS blockers?
Aliskiren, the first renin inhibitor, offers a novel mechanism of RAS blockade with potential differences from ACE inhibitors and ARBs, including interactions with the (pro)renin receptor.
The first renin inhibitor, aliskiren, will soon enter the clinical arena. This review summarizes the potential differences between renin inhibitors and the currently existing blockers of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) ie, the ACE inhibitors and the angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor antagonists, taking also into consideration the recently discovered (pro)renin receptor. This receptor not only activates the inactive precursor of renin, prorenin, but it also exerts direct renin/prorenin-induced effects, independently of angiotensin. The review ends with a brief overview of the available (pre)clinical aliskiren data and a description of its safety profile.
A.H. Jan Danser (Wed,) conducted a review in Hypertension. Aliskiren vs. ACE inhibitors and AT(1) receptor antagonists was evaluated. Aliskiren, the first renin inhibitor, offers potential differences from existing renin-angiotensin system blockers, including interactions with the newly discovered (pro)renin receptor.