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Case Reports
. 2020 Jan;27(1):49-51.
doi: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2018-001669. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Telmisartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy: a case report

Natalia Alzueta  1 , Amaya Echeverría  1 , Lorea Sanz  1 , Carmen Fontela  1 , Teresa Acín  1 , Lidia Montenegro  1 , Javier Garjón  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Telmisartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy: a case report

Natalia Alzueta et al. Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2020 Jan.

Abstract

A possible case of sprue-like enteropathy (SLE) induced by the use of telmisartan is reported. Telmisartan is an angiotensin-receptor II blocker (type 1) used for the treatment of hypertension. Several cases of SLE associated with olmesartan and other drugs of the same group have been reported. In all cases, SLE resolved following therapy withdrawal. We describe the case of an 80-year-old woman who presented with diarrhoea and abdominal pain. In the past 5 years she had been treated with telmisartan 40 mg once a day for hypertension, so we hypothesised that symptoms might be caused by telmisartan. After treatment discontinuation, diarrhoea disappeared. Three causality algorithms were applied and revealed a possible or likely causal relationship. At present, the patient remains asymptomatic. There is a causal relationship between the use of telmisartan and SLE. This association should be taken into account by physicians when prescribing and reviewing drug therapies.

Keywords: adverse event; angiotensin-receptor Ii blocker; diarrhea; sprue-like enteropathy; telmisartan.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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