Introduction

Primatesta P , Poulter NR . Improvement in hypertension management in England: results from the Health Survey for England 2003. J Hypertens 2006; 24: 1187–92.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence clinical guideline 34, June 2006. www.nice.org.uk

Azizi M , Menard J , Bissery A Pharmacologic demonstration of the synergistic effects of a combination of the renin inhibitor aliskiren and the AT1 receptor antagonist valsartan on the angiotensin II-renin feedback interruption. J Am Soc Nephrol 2004; 15: 3126–33.

Herron J , Mitchell J , Oh B The novel renin inhibitor aliskiren is not associated with rebound effects on blood pressure or plasma renin activity following treatment withdrawal. J Clin Hypertens 2006; 8(5 suppl. A):A86–7. Abstract P-193.

Wood JM , Maibaum J , Rahuel J Structure-based design of aliskiren, a novel orally effective renin inhibitor Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 308: 698–705.

Rigel DF , Fu F , Li S The renin inhibitor aliskiren is a potent and long-acting antihypertensive in double transgenic rats expressing human renin and angiotensinogen genes. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 43(suppl A):483A. Abstract 1085.

Pilz B , Shagdarusen E , Wellner M Aliskiren, a human renin inhibitor, ameliorates cardiac and renal damage in double-transgenic rats. Hypertension 2005; 46: 569–76.

Gradman AH , Schmieder RE , Lins RL Aliskiren, a novel orally effective renin inhibitor, provides dose-dependent antihypertensive efficacy and placebo-like tolerability in hypertensive patients. Circulation 2005; 111: 1012–18.

Villamil A , Chrysant S , Calhoun D The novel oral renin inhibitor aliskiren provides effective blood pressure control in patients with hypertension when used alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide. J Clin Hypertens 2006; 8(5 suppl A)P-228.

Uresin Y , Taylor A , Kilo C Aliskiren, a novel renin inhibitor, has greater BP lowering than ramipril and additional BP lowering when combined with ramipril in patients with diabetes and hypertension. J Hypertens 2006:24(suppl 4):S82(P4.269).

Munger MA , Drummond W , Essop MR Aliskiren as add-on to amlodipine provides significant additional blood pressure lowering without increased oedema associated with doubling the amlodipine dose. Abstract presented at WCC/ESC, Barcelona, Spain, 2-6 September, 2006 (P784).

Sica D , Gradman A , Lederballe O Aliskiren, a novel renin inhibitor, is well tolerated and has sustained BP-lowering effects alone or in combination with HCTZ during long-term (52 weeks) treatment of hypertension. Abstract presented at WCC/ESC, Barcelona, Spain, 2-6 September, 2006 (P797).