Five cases of sprue-like enteropathy in patients treated by olmesartan.
We describe five cases of sprue-like enteropathy during treatment with olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Patients presented severe diarrhoea, significant weight loss or dehydration, with or without intestinal villous atrophy. Clinical signs ceased upon drug discontinuation in all cases; olmesartan was reintroduced in two cases and rechallenge was positive in both. These add to the previously reported cases that led to a label change for olmesartan in the United States. However, all cases were observed in a small gastroenterology unit, which suggests that this adverse effect may not be rare. A preliminary search for the other angiotensin II receptor antagonists in the French pharmacovigilance system found severe diarrhoea and colitis, but no case with villous atrophy. Therefore, in the presence of severe diarrhoea, olmesartan or other angiotensin II receptor antagonists should be discontinued, even if the treatment has been taken for several months or years.
Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Department of Pharmacology, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Univ Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; INSERM U657, Bordeaux, France. Electronic address: helene.theophile@u-bordeaux2.fr.
Hélène
H
Théophile
Gastroenterology Department, Private General Hospital, Côte Basque Sud, Saint Jean de Luz, France.
Xavier-Richard
XR
David
Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Department of Pharmacology, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Univ Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; INSERM U657, Bordeaux, France.
Ghada
G
Miremont-Salamé
Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Department of Pharmacology, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Univ Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; INSERM U657, Bordeaux, France.
Françoise
F
Haramburu
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000139:chemically induced; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007079:Ileitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015431:Weight Loss
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; C437965:olmesartan
Angiotensin II receptor antagonist; Enteropathy; Olmesartan; Villous atrophy