Aliskiren: Will a novel mechanism improve clinical outcomes?

摘要

In the past several decades, our knowledge of the pathophysi-ologic mediators of hypertension has led to a number of developments that not only have broadened our options for pharmacologic treatment but also have benefited patients with other forms of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease and heart failure. The importance of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in blood pressure regulation has become increasingly recognized, not only for its physiologic role in regulating blood pressure, but for its role in the progression of diseases such as heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II-receptor blockers (ARBs) have assumed increasingly valuable roles in reducing morbidity and mortality in a variety of vascular diseases, including diabetic nephropathy.