An altered ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) profile is related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiorenal syndrome. In this study, we examined the effects of aliskiren, when added to angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers, on ambulatory BP and cardiorenal function in CKD. Thirty-six hypertensive CKD patients were randomly assigned to the aliskiren add-on group (n = 18) o...

Intensive efforts have been spent to discover therapeutic, non-peptide and orally effective hypertensive drugs. One drug that emerged from this effort is aliskiren, a direct human renin inhibitor that blocks the conversion of angiotensinogen to angiotensin I (Ang I). In contrast to other antihypertensive agents, aliskiren decreases plasma renin activity (PRA). In healthy human subjects, doses o...

OBJECTIVE The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) plays a central role in atherosclerosis. To investigate the effects of a direct renin inhibitor aliskiren on vascular inflammation, we conducted leukocyte adhesion assays in vivo and in vitro using a novel real-time imaging system. METHODS AND RESULTS Aliskiren (10 mg/kg/d) or PBS was administered to C57BL/6 mice (6-7 weeks of age; Orie...

The present study investigated the possible renoprotective effect of direct renin inhibitor (aliskiren) on renal dysfunctions, as well as its underlying mechanisms in rat model of adenine-induced tubulointerstitial nephropathy. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 4 groups; normal group, aliskiren group (normal rats received 10 mg/kg aliskiren), adenine group (animals received hi...

AIMS The objective of the Aliskiren Trial on Acute Heart Failure Outcomes (ASTRONAUT) was to determine whether aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, would improve post-discharge outcomes in patients with hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) with reduced ejection fraction. Pre-specified subgroup analyses suggested potential heterogeneity in post-discharge outcomes with aliskiren in patients wi...

BACKGROUND Stopping the detrimental effects of the renin-angiotensin system at the most upstream point of the cascade offers theoretical advantages for cardiovascular protection. This study compares the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of the novel oral renin inhibitor aliskiren with placebo and an active comparator. METHODS AND RESULTS The study was a randomized, multicenter, double-blin...

BACKGROUND/AIMS In obese, hypertensive subjects, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is enhanced and natriuresis impaired, suggesting a role for combination RAS blockade with diuretics. Data suggest that renin inhibition may attenuate diuretic-induced RAS activation and oxidative stress. METHODS In this 8-week, double-blind study of 386 obese individuals (mean body mass index: 35.3) with stage...

BACKGROUND Laboratory research and previous study suggest that aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, has anti-proteinuric effects. We conducted a randomized crossover study to evaluate the anti-proteinuric effect of aliskiren in patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. METHODS We studied 22 patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy and persistent proteinuria despite angiotensin conv...

Objective To systematically review and synthesize the currently available evidence of aliskiren for the treatment of heart failure. Materials and Methods We systematically searched the Cochrane, Embase and PubMed databases to identify the randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the effects of aliskiren on heart failure. Data were synthesized with random effects model and presented in forest plo...

Renin is the main determinant of angiotensin (Ang) II levels. It, therefore, always appeared desirable to reduce Ang II levels by direct inhibition of renin. So far, specific renin inhibitors lacked potency and/or oral availability. We tested the new orally active nonpeptidic renin inhibitor SPP100 (Aliskiren, an octanamide with a 50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] in the low nanomolar range) ...