Objectives: The AliSkiren Study of profound antihypERtensive efficacy in hyperTensIVE patients (ASSERTIVE) study was designed to assess the sustained blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect of aliskiren vs. telmisartan after a 7-day treatment withdrawal in patients with hypertension.
Methods: Patients were randomized to once-daily aliskiren 150 mg (N = 414) or telmisartan 40 mg (N = 408). After 2 weeks, all patients were uptitrated to double the initial dose for 10 weeks; subsequently, all patients were treated with placebo to simulate a 7-day treatment withdrawal.
Results: At the end of active treatment (EoA), similar decreases in mean ambulatory BP were observed with aliskiren and telmisartan. From EoA to day 7 of treatment withdrawal (end of withdrawal, EoW), the least squares mean increase in 24-h mean ambulatory SBP was smaller for aliskiren (2.7 mmHg) vs. telmisartan (6.5 mmHg). Between-treatment difference was significant in favour of aliskiren (-3.8 mmHg; P < 0.0001). Similar effects were observed for the increase in 24-h mean ambulatory DBP after EoW (-2.1 mmHg; P < 0.0001). Mean sitting SBP and DBP were also significantly lower with aliskiren than telmisartan after EoW with SBP (2.0 mmHg) and DBP (1.1 mmHg) differences in favour of aliskiren, already evident on day 2 after a single 'missed dose'.
Conclusion: Aliskiren showed a greater and more sustained BP-lowering effect than telmisartan during a 7-day treatment withdrawal. Aliskiren may provide sustained BP lowering during 1 day or more missed dose.