Aliskiren Effect on Aortic Plaque Progression

Summary

This study is being done to assess the effectiveness of short term (\~9 months) Aliskiren/Placebo therapy to slow down the progression of atherosclerotic disease in thoracic and abdominal aorta. This will be checked by comparing before and after therapy magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pictures of the aortic wall. Aliskiren is an FDA approved drug for hypertension but in this study is used for a new indication. Recent studies with animals have shown that Aliskiren therapy reduces the atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, in this study, the investigators would like to evaluate whether the investigational drug Aliskiren, which is not FDA approved for this indication has the same beneficial effects in people with atherosclerotic disease.

Timeline

Start

2009-10

Primary completion

2011-12

Completion

2012-01

Publications

• Deiuliis J, Mihai G, Zhang J, Taslim C, Varghese JJ, Maiseyeu A, Huang K, Rajagopalan S. Renin-sensitive microRNAs correlate with atherosclerosis plaque progression. J Hum Hypertens. 2014 Apr;28(4):251-8. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2013.97. Epub 2013 Oct 24.
• Mihai G, Varghese J, Kampfrath T, Gushchina L, Hafer L, Deiuliis J, Maiseyeu A, Simonetti OP, Lu B, Rajagopalan S. Aliskiren effect on plaque progression in established atherosclerosis using high resolution 3D MRI (ALPINE): a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2013 May 17;2(3):e004879. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.112.004879.

Drugs

Indications