Olmesartan-Associated Enteropathy: An Unexpected Cause of Chronic Diarrhoea

Authors

• Mónica Martins Teixeira Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
• Sara Macedo Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
• Ana Sofia Martins Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
• Tânia Batista Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
• António Novais Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
• Maria Costa Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal
• Eugénia Maria Cancela Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal

monicamteixeira.9@gmail.com

Keywords

Abstract

Olmesartan-associated enteropathy is a rare cause of severe enteropathy that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained chronic diarrhoea. It may be difficult to recognise because of its clinical and histologic similarities to other clinical entities. The authors present the case of a 72-year-old woman with a 6-month clinical history of non-bloody diarrhoea and weight loss. Discontinuation of olmesartan resulted in clinical and histologic recovery, and therefore, physicians need to be aware of olmesartan-associated enteropathy in order to avoid unnecessary testing. Although rare, it is considered an emerging and underdiagnosed enteropathy.