title: Aliskiren as a novel therapeutic agent for hypertension and cardio-renal diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and renal complications. A majority of treated hypertensive patients still complain of high BP. The renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) has been a centre-stage target for all the cardiovascular and cardio-renal complications. Aliskiren, is the first direct renin inhibitor (DRI) to be approved by the US FDA. Renin controls the rate-limiting step in the RAAS cascade and hence is the most favorable target for RAAS suppression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review article strives to summarize the pharmacokinetic, preclinical and clinical studies done so far pertaining to the efficacy of aliskiren. Further, the pharmacology of aliskiren has been comprehensively dealt with to enhance understanding so as to further research in this unfathomed area in the multitude of cardiovascular disorders and renal diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aliskiren has been shown to have comparable BP-lowering effects to other RAAS inhibitors. Recent clinical trials have indicated that it might contribute significantly in combination with other agents for the protection of end-organ diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Azhar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rashikh
authors.forename: Shibli Jameel
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Krishna Kolappa
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.forename: Abul Kalam
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Najmi
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005650:Fumarates / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D005650:Fumarates; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors; C446481:aliskiren