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Introduction: In recent months, doubts have arisen among patients, general practitioners, and neurologists as to whether some drugs commonly used in patients with headaches and neuralgia may favour or complicate the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2., Material and Methods: We collected information on the opinions of scientific societies and medicines agencies (American, European, and Spanish) to clarify doubts regarding the use of drugs such as lisinopril, candesartan, ibuprofen, corticosteroids, carbamazepine, and monoclonal antibodies targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic., Results: We make recommendations about the use of standard headache treatments in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the current scientific evidence., Conclusions: At present, there is no robust scientific argument to formally contraindicate any of the standard treatments employed for headaches and neuralgias., (Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To describe the pattern of care usually given to patients with acute heart failure (AHF) who are taking sacubitril/valsartan (SV) and to explore the effects of care characteristics on clinical outcomes., Material and Methods: Exploratory study of AHF cases in patients taking SV who were included in the register for the Epidemiology of Acute Heart Failure in Emergency Departments during the sixth period of data collection (EAHFE-6). We extracted baseline and episode variables and information related to SV treatment. We also analyzed associations between the discontinuation of SV therapy and adverse events within 180 days (all-cause mortality) and after discharge (emergency revisits, admission for AHF, death from any cause, or a composite event)., Results: . Fifty patients on SV were included. The median time on SV therapy was 81 days (interquartile range, 43-284 days). SV was discontinued in 19 cases (38%; 5 in the emergency department and 14 on the ward). Sixteen records specified the reason for discontinuing SV: renal insufficiency, 4 cases; arterial hypotension, 3; weakness/dizziness, 3; and exacerbated AHF, 3. SV discontinuation was associated with older age, absence of treatment with a betablocker, and hyperkalemia. The EAHFE-6 cases did not reveal significant differences related to SV discontinuation with respect to the rates of adverse events within 180 days or on discharge after the index event., Conclusion: Long-term SV therapy is discontinued in over a third of patients who present with exacerbated AHF even though no association with clinical outcomes could be identified.

Olmesartan is an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker commonly used in the treatment of hypertension. Several cases of sprue-like enteropathy associated with the use of this drug have been described which, even with important signs and limitations for the patient, present a full recovery after discontinuing the use of olmesartan. The case of a 64 year-old patient is presented, diagnosed with hypertension, under treatment with olmesartan-amlodipine, with chronic diarrhoea and villous atrophy on intestinal biopsies without diagnostic criteria for celiac disease and with complete remission after suspending discontinuing the use of olmesartan. Based on the clinical features presented by the case reported, the clinical and anatomopathological findings are described as well as the evolution of drug-induced enteropathy.

We present the case of a male patient with a history of hypertension who developed acute lithiasic cholecystitis. Shortly before the patient's admission, valsartan was prescribed to control his blood pressure. Surgery was performed without complications, but during the immediate postoperative period he developed marked jaundice, light colored stools, dark urine, and malaise. A cholangiogram showed a mild stricture of the common bile duct, and laboratory analyses revealed IgM antibodies against hepatitis A virus. Moreover, the patient reported the he continued to take valsartan. The patient improved with conservative treatment without any further complaints. In patients with jaundice after biliary surgery, exhaustive studies must be carried out before reintervention is performed, including investigation of the administration of drugs with potential hepatotoxic effects.

Ischemic nephropathy could be complicated with hypertension and acute worsening of chronic renal failure secondary to ACE inhibitors or AT receptor antagonist treatments and arterial occlusion. We describe a patient with bilateral renal artery stenosis and hypertension treated with ATI receptor antagonist (valsartan) that developed rapid worsening of renal function that required dialysis. Percutaneous transluminal renal artery angioplasty and stenting, complemented with hydratation and valsartan suppression achieves rapid and sustained recovery of renal function.