Safety and Efficacy of Aliskiren 300 mg, 150 mg and 75 mg in Patients With Essential Hypertension Compared to Ramipril 5 mg

Exclusion Criteria

• •Severe hypertension (grade 3 WHO classification; msDBP \>or= 110 mmHg and/or msSBP \>or = 180 mmHg).
• •History or evidence of a secondary form of hypertension.
• •History of transient ischemic cerebral attack within 12 months of visit 1.
• •Current angina pectoris requiring pharmacological therapy (other than those patients on a stable dose of oral or topical nitrates)
• •Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) \> 8% at Visit 1.
• •Known or suspected contraindications to the study medications, including history of allergy to ramipril or other ACE Inhibitors.