Combination therapy with various combinations of aliskiren, valsartan, and hydrochlorothiazide in hypertensive patients not adequately responsive to hydrochlorothiazide alone.

Author(s): Geiger H, Barranco E, Gorostidi M, Taylor A, Zhang X, Xiang Z, Zhang J

Affiliation(s): Johann-W. Goethe Universitat, Zentrum fur Innere Medizin, Funktionsbereich Nephrologie, Frankfurt, Germany. h.geiger@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Publication date & source: 2009-06, J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich)., 11(6):324-32.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of several different multi-drug regimens including aliskiren, valsartan, and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in patients not adequately responsive to HCTZ as monotherapy. After 4 weeks of HCTZ treatment, patients (N=641) whose diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was > or =95 mm Hg were treated for 8 weeks with either aliskiren/valsartan/HCTZ, aliskiren/HCTZ, valsartan/HCTZ, or HCTZ alone. The primary efficacy variable was change in DBP from baseline to week 8 end point. The aliskiren/valsartan/HCTZ combination produced statistically significant additional reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP)/DBP when compared with other groups. At week 8 end point, reductions in SBP/DBP in the respective treatment groups were 22/16, 15/11, 18/14, or 6/6 mm Hg. Aliskiren/valsartan/HCTZ produced significantly better blood pressure control (SBP/DBP <140/90 mm Hg; 66.7%) compared with other treatment groups (20.5%-48.7%). The safety profile of aliskiren/valsartan/HCTZ was similar to the 2-drug combinations, with a greater blood pressure-lowering effect in patients who had not responded to HCTZ monotherapy.