[Enterocolitis due to a saponin-containing drug. Apropos of a case]

The case of a 60-year-old female patient with watery diarrhea is reported. The history was characterized by prolonged diagnostic vagaries, due in part to histological features of ileal, rectal and duodenal biopsies which were suggestive of celiac disease. This was clinically excluded. After halting the intake of a compound drug containing saponins, administered for venous insufficiency, the diarrhea ceased immediately but could be provoked by rechallenge with the same drug. The patient thus had drug induced chronic diarrhea mimicking celiac disease, a condition which is less rare than is thought and easily diagnosed by a thorough enquiry on drug intake.