The novel agent lowers aldosterone activity without the off-target inhibition of cortisol synthesis that has thwarted previous drug candidates, the researchers say.
Use of a combination product containing quarter doses of four different drugs reduced blood pressure by almost 5 mm Hg more than a standard dose of one antihypertensive agent.
Maintaining treatment with a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor in people with advanced, progressive chronic kidney disease caused no problems compared with stopping it in a randomized study.
Almost half of women with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia are still hypertensive a year after pregnancy, the risk predicted by higher BMI and elevated BP soon after delivery.