Azilsartan causing metabolic encephalopathy

ABSTRACT

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are the antihypertensive drugs associated with side effects, majorly such ascough and electrolyte disturbance. Azilsartan is a newly marketed ARB in India, not even having a well-establishedadverse effect profile. Here, we present a 58-year-old female who was admitted to the emergency department showingsigns and symptoms of delirium, disorientation, and vomiting for 4 days. The patient is known to have coronaryartery disease so that she underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. She was recently started on azilsartan for herchronic hypertension, along with other drugs. The presence of electrolyte imbalance in laboratory reports and currentsymptoms suggested azilsartan-induced encephalopathy. The patient was recovered after discontinuation of azilsartan.This case enlightens the clinical characteristics, possible mechanism, and treatment strategy opted to correct thecondition.