DIRECT RENIN INHIBITORS IN ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION TREATMENT

Abstract

 High blood pressurewas the leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Despite progress in treatment of hypertension, a number of people with uncontrolled or resistant hypertension increases. Hypertensive disorders are strongly linked with an overactive renin-angiotensin aldosterone system. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has been a highly successful pharmacologic target, as the system is strongly implicated in the development of hypertension-related target organ damage.Inhibition of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system, using inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme or angiotensin II receptor blockers, is an effective way to intervene with the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension.Renin inhibitors block the renin-angiotensin aldosterone systemat the highest level, at its origin, and might thus offer a new exciting approach for pharmacotherapy of hypertension. Aliskiren, an octanamide, is the firstof a new class of completely non-peptide, low-molecular-weight, orally active transition-state renin inhibitors and only approved for the treatment of hypertension.summarizes the available data on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of aliskiren and its clinical role for treatment of arterial hypertension.