Aliskiren - an antihypertensive renin inhibitor in the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease

Introduction. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Drugs affecting the RAAS system, such as angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), are commonly used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. These drugs are also effective in reducing proteinuria and may, at least, delay end-stage renal disease in both diabetic and non-diabetic proteinuric CKD. However, novel drugs are needed to more effectively suppress the RAAS system and the progression of CKD. Aliskiren is the first direct renin inhibitor which has been approved for the treatment of hypertension. Additionally, a number of clinical studies have shown the antiproteinuric effect of aliskiren. Objective. This review focuses on the antihypertensive and antiproteinuric effects of aliskiren in patients with CKD. The pharmacology of aliskiren in these patients is also provided. Conclusions. Aliskiren-based hard endpoint large trials in non-diabetic nephropathy are needed in order to clarify the use of aliskiren in CKD patients.