Abstract
Combinations of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or diuretics are effective therapeutic regimens for the treatment of hypertension. A large database of safety information has become available during the past several years with aliskiren in combination trials. Data were pooled from 9 short-term (8-week) and 4 longer-term (26- to 52-week) randomized controlled trials of aliskiren in patients with hypertension. Adverse event (AE) rates were assessed for aliskiren combination therapy compared with component monotherapies. In short-term studies, overall AE rates were similar for patients receiving aliskiren/valsartan or aliskiren/diuretic combinations (32.2%-39.8%) and those receiving the component monotherapies (30.0%-39.6%). In longer-term studies, AE rates with aliskiren/losartan (55.5%) and aliskiren/diuretic (45.0%) combination therapy were similar to those with losartan (53.9%) and diuretic (48.9%) alone. Angioedema and hyperkalemia occurred in similar proportions of patients taking combination therapies vs monotherapy. The safety and tolerability profile of aliskiren in combination with the ARBs valsartan or losartan, or diuretic, is similar to aliskiren, ARBs, or diuretics alone.