Abstract
Sartan-associated enteropathy is a sprue-like diarrhoeal disease induced by sartans (especially olmesartan) and is characterised by damage to the small intestine. Villous atrophy with lymphocytic infiltration of lamina propria is usually present and can be associated with intraepithelial lymphocytosis and/or subepithelial collagen deposits.
The course of the disease is sometimes severe; however, withdrawal of medication leads to the complete reversal of symptoms and drug re-challenge results in the reappearance of the clinical signs of the disease. This side effect of the drug is relatively rare compared with the number of patients treated with olmesartan.
Nevertheless, it represents a frequent and important diagnostic alternative in cohorts of patients with non-coeliac sprue. The disease is presumably caused by an autoimmune mechanism in predisposed individuals.
We present a case report of telmisartan-associated enteropathy.