There was a dose-dependent decrease in blood pressure for aliskiren 75 mg , 150 mg and 300 mg .
Aliskiren had no effect on blood pressure variability .
Due to very limited information available regarding change in heart rate and pulse pressure , it was not possible to meta-analyze these outcomes .Mortality and non-fatal serious adverse events were not increased .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Compared to placebo , aliskiren lowered BP and this effect is dose-dependent .
This magnitude of BP lowering effect is similar to that for angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE ) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers ( ARBs ) .
There is no difference in mortality , nonfatal serious adverse events or withdrawal due to adverse effects with short term aliskiren monotherapy .
BACKGROUND Hypertension is a chronic condition associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity .
Renin is the enzyme responsible for converting angiotensinogen to angiotensin I , which is then converted to angiotensin II .
Renin inhibitors are a new class of drugs that decrease blood pressure ( BP ) by preventing the formation of both angiotensin I and angiotensin II .
OBJECTIVES To quantify the dose-related BP lowering efficacy of renin inhibitors compared to placebo in the treatment of primary hypertension .
To determine the change in BP variability , pulse pressure , and heart rate and to evaluate adverse events ( mortality , non-fatal serious adverse events , total adverse events , withdrawal due to adverse effects and specific adverse events such as dry cough , diarrhoea and angioedema ) .
Safety and tolerability of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren: a pooled analysis of clinical experience in more than 12,000 patients with hypertension.
While the safety of renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-blocking drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE ) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers is well known , less is known about the new direct renin inhibitor aliskiren . The authors pooled data from 12 r and omized controlled trials of aliskiren in patients with hypertension and analyzed the incidence and types of adverse events ( AEs ) and laboratory abnormalities . Studies were characterized as short-term ( ≤2 months ) placebo-controlled or long-term ( > 2 months ) active-controlled . Relative risks for AEs of particular interest for RAS blockers were calculated . In short-term studies , AEs occurred in similar proportions of aliskiren 150 mg and 300 mg ( 33.6 % and 31.6 % , respectively ) and placebo treatment groups ( 36.8 % ) . In long-term studies , a lower proportion of patients treated with aliskiren 150 mg and 300 mg had AEs ( 33.7 % and 43.2 % , respectively ) than those treated with ACE inhibitors ( 60.1 % ) , angiotensin receptor blockers ( 53.9 % ) , and thiazide diuretics ( 48.9 % ) . Events of special interest , including angioedema , hyperkalemia , and diarrhea occurred in similar proportions of patients taking aliskiren , placebo , and comparator agents . In studies of up to 36 weeks , patients treated with aliskiren were significantly less likely to develop cough than those treated with ACE inhibitors . At the registered doses of 150 mg and 300 mg daily , aliskiren  has safety and tolerability profiles  similar to placebo , other RAS blockers , and diuretics . Cough rates are lower with aliskiren compared with ACE inhibitors
There was a dose-dependent decrease in blood pressure for aliskiren 75 mg , 150 mg and 300 mg .
Aliskiren had no effect on blood pressure variability .
Due to very limited information available regarding change in heart rate and pulse pressure , it was not possible to meta-analyze these outcomes .Mortality and non-fatal serious adverse events were not increased .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Compared to placebo , aliskiren lowered BP and this effect is dose-dependent .
This magnitude of BP lowering effect is similar to that for angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE ) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers ( ARBs ) .
There is no difference in mortality , nonfatal serious adverse events or withdrawal due to adverse effects with short term aliskiren monotherapy .
BACKGROUND Hypertension is a chronic condition associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity .
Renin is the enzyme responsible for converting angiotensinogen to angiotensin I , which is then converted to angiotensin II .
Renin inhibitors are a new class of drugs that decrease blood pressure ( BP ) by preventing the formation of both angiotensin I and angiotensin II .
OBJECTIVES To quantify the dose-related BP lowering efficacy of renin inhibitors compared to placebo in the treatment of primary hypertension .
To determine the change in BP variability , pulse pressure , and heart rate and to evaluate adverse events ( mortality , non-fatal serious adverse events , total adverse events , withdrawal due to adverse effects and specific adverse events such as dry cough , diarrhoea and angioedema ) .