Association of microscopic colitis and enteropathy due to olmesartan

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Chronic diarrhea poses a diagnostic challenge, often requiring extensive investigation.
• Olmesartan, a widely used antihypertensive, is associated with gastrointestinal side effects.
• Microscopic colitis is an inflammatory condition of the colon.

Observation:

• A patient presented with recurrent, severe chronic diarrhea of unknown etiology.
• Despite multiple admissions and investigations, the cause of the diarrhea remained elusive.
• A detailed medical history and further studies were crucial for diagnosis.

Findings:

• The patient was diagnosed with concurrent microscopic colitis and Olmesartan-induced enteropathy.
• This combination of conditions is rarely reported in medical literature.
• Olmesartan was identified as the causative agent for the enteropathy.

Implications:

• Emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive patient history in diagnosing complex gastrointestinal disorders.
• Highlights the need for high clinical suspicion to identify uncommon drug-induced enteropathies.
• Suggests that early diagnosis can prevent unnecessary investigations and treatments for chronic diarrhea.