Effects of Aliskiren and Amlodipine on the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) and Lipid/Carbohydrate Metabolism in Obese Patients With Hypertension

Part 1: An Open Label Pilot Study to Determine Interstitial and Tissue Concentrations of Aliskiren and Effects on the Renin- Angiotensin System (RAS) in Fat and Skeletal Muscle of Hypertensive Patients With Abdominal Obesity. Part 2: A Randomized, Double Blind, 12-weeks Parallel Group Study to Compare Effects of Aliskiren 300 mg and Amlodipine 5 mg on the RAS and Lipid/Carbohydrate Metabolism in Fat and Skeletal Muscle of Hypertensive Patients With Abdominal Obesity

Part 1 determined: aliskiren, amlodipine and angiotensin II concentrations in interstitial fluid of fat and skeletal muscle; aliskiren and angiotensin II concentrations, and renin activity and concentration in fat and skeletal muscle tissues (biopsies); aliskiren, amlodipine and angiotensin II concentrations, and renin activity and concentration in plasma.

Part 2 investigated the potential for aliskiren to modulate renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity, and lipid/carbohydrate metabolism in adipose and skeletal muscle tissue in obese patients with hypertension in comparison to amlodipine.

Inclusion criteria:

PART 1:

• Male and female patients 20 to 65 years of age with a diagnosis of hypertension and with abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men and ≥ 88 cm in women)
• For patients with a history of treated hypertension, mean sitting systolic blood pressure (msSBP)/ mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (msDBP) had to be ≥ 120/80 mmHg and ≤ 160/100 mm Hg. For patients with newly diagnosed, untreated hypertension msSBP/msDBP had to be ≥ 135/85 mmHg and ≤ 160/100 mm Hg
• Pulse rate 40 - 90 bpm

PART 2:

• Male and female patients 18 to 65 years of age , with a diagnosis of hypertension and with abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men and ≥ 88 cm in women)

• Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were assessed after the patient had rested for at least five (5) minutes. Vital signs had to be within the following ranges:

  1. Patients with history of treated hypertension: msSBP/msDBP ≥ 135/85 mmHg and < 160/100 mmHg at baseline
  2. Patients with newly diagnosed, untreated hypertension: msSBP/msDBP ≥ 135/85 mmHg and < 160/100 mmHg at screening and baseline.

Exclusion criteria:

PART 1

• Hypertension Grade 2 (msSBP ≥ 160 mmHg) or Grade 3 (msDBP ≥ 110 mmHg and/or msSBP ≥ 180 mmHg) WHO classification
• Current treatment with three or more antihypertensive drugs.

PART 2

• Hypertension Grade 2 (msSBP ≥ 160 and/or msDBP ≥ 100 mmHg).
• Current treatment with three or more antihypertensive drugs.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria applied