An unusual cause of severe, persistent diarrhoea

Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2017 Jul-Sep;80(3):416-418.

Abstract

We present two cases of patients with severe persistent diarrhoea, in whom duodenal biopsies revealed villous atrophy that could be attributed to the use of olmesartan. The differential diagnosis of villous atrophy without serological markers of celiac disease should include drugs as possible cause, with olmesartan as a recently discovered culprit. Gastroenterologist should be aware of this entity.

Keywords: coeliac disease; diarrhea; olmesartan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / administration & dosage
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / adverse effects
  • Atrophy / chemically induced
  • Atrophy / pathology
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diarrhea* / diagnosis
  • Diarrhea* / etiology
  • Diarrhea* / physiopathology
  • Diarrhea* / therapy
  • Duodenum / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / administration & dosage
  • Imidazoles / adverse effects*
  • Intestinal Mucosa* / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Microvilli / pathology*
  • Tetrazoles / administration & dosage
  • Tetrazoles / adverse effects*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Withholding Treatment

Substances

  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
  • Imidazoles
  • Tetrazoles
  • olmesartan