Successful utilization of aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor in Bartter syndrome.

Bartter syndrome is traditionally treated with large doses of oral potassium with or without suppression of the renin-angiotensin system. Since plasma renin activity is invariably elevated in Bartter syndrome, the availability of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren should lead to the ability to maintain potassium levels without utilizing large doses of oral potassium. This case report is, to my knowledge, the first to show the efficacy of a renin receptor blocker in Bartter syndrome.