The development of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren: treating hypertension and beyond

Abstract

Background: Direct renin inhibitors such as aliskiren offer a novel way of treating hypertension and its co-morbidities, conditions with a considerable prevalence, morbidity, and mortality worldwide. Objective: The burden of hypertension worldwide and the role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in this disease will be reviewed. Current treatments for hypertension and its co-morbidities that work by manipulating this system will be discussed. The development of, and clinical trials involving, direct renin inhibitors will be reviewed, with a focus on aliskiren. Methods: PubMed was utilized to search the most recent literature on the topics of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, aldosterone and aliskiren. Results/conclusions: The direct renin inhibitors, including aliskiren, are new agents with great promise for the treatment of hypertension and its co-morbid conditions, including renal and cardiovascular disease.

Keywords::

• aliskiren
• angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor
• angiotensin receptor blocker
• hypertension
• mineralocorticoid receptor blocker
• renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system