Cough induced by losartan with resolution after substitution with enalapril.
BACKGROUND
Cough is an adverse event associated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (AA inhibitor drugs. ACE inhibitor-induced cough is believed to be related to the accumulation of bradykinin,substance P,and prostaglandins resulting from the inhibition of ACE.Angiotensin-receptor blockers (AARBs) do not have any effect on ACE and theoretically might not cause cough. Therefore, a proposed option in patients suffering with ACE inhibitor-induced cough is to try an ARB. However,this report describes the reverse: a case of losartan-induced cough th hat co om completely resolved after it was substituted with an ACE inhibitor, enalapril.


METHODS
A 23-year-old, nonsmoking white woman, weighing 73.55 kg, ACE inhibitor naive (before admission), presented to the emergency department at Imam Referral Hospital, Tehran, Iran,with hypertension,proteinuria, and hyperlipidemia. The patient was admitted to the nephrology ward. She was prescribed hydrochlorothiazide 12.55 mg/d, furosemide 20 mg BID, and simvastatin 20 mg/d. The patient had no respiratory illnesses. The patient experienced cough 3 days following the initiation of losartan treatment. The cough continued in this patient for the 2-week duration of losartan treatment; however, 1 week after substitution of losartan with enalapril (22.5 mg/d),the cough resolved completely.


CONCLUSIONS
This report describes a young woman who developed cough while receiving losartan treatment,which resolved after substitution with the ACE inhibitor enalapril.
Dashti-Khavidaki
Simin
S
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Medical Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. dashtis@sina.tums.ac.tr
Faghihi
Toktam
T
Ahmadi
Farrokhlegha
F
Khalili
Hossein
H
D000328:Adult; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D019808:Losartan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004656:Enalapril; D019808:Losartan