The antihypertensive drug aliskiren ( Rasilez) should no longer be co-administered with angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), the manufacturer announced following the early termination of the ALTITUDE trial. Patients taking these combinations should be switched to another antihypertensive regimen.
In the study, patients with type 2 diabetes and impaired renal function were given aliskiren or placebo in addition to an ACE inhibitor or ARB. A data monitoring group opted to stop the trial after the aliskiren group had a higher-than-expected incidence of nonfatal stroke, renal complications, hyperkalemia, and hypotension after 18 to 24 months.
