title: New therapeutic options in patients prone to hypertension: a focus on direct Renin inhibition and aldosterone blockade.
abstract: Certain patient populations have a high prevalence of hypertension, including black, elderly, or obese patients; patients with metabolic syndrome, or frank diabetes; and patients with chronic kidney disease. Many of these patients experience renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) dysregulation, which is important because the RAAS plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and renal dysfunction. Data available regarding newer approaches that target the RAAS, including direct renin inhibition and aldosterone receptor antagonism, in patients who often have hypertension are reviewed. Aliskiren, the first direct renin inhibitor, is effective in a number of these patient groups, including those who are black or obese or who have metabolic syndrome, renal impairment, or diabetes. In addition, in the setting of long-term angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker therapy, aldosterone receptor antagonists (spironolactone and eplerenone) provide another rational therapeutic approach for patients whose blood pressure is not controlled by standard therapies.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Service Line, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina 29403, USA. jan.basile@va.gov
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Basile
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors