Re: ANG II Type 1 Receptor Blockade May Curb C. Difficile-Induced Diarrhea

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting this Nelly. I am the self-proclaimed Queen of C. Diff as I

get it

just about if you SHOW me an antibiotic. I've had to sell my soul and such to

afford

the vancomycin that I have to use all the dang time. This is

interesting...wonder if it

will pan out with further replication -- the constant damage from the toxins is

making a mess of my GI tract...

Thanks again.

--- In infections , " Nelly Pointis " <janel@p...>

wrote:

> NOTE: To view the article with Web enhancements, go to:

> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/507398

>

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> ANG II Type 1 Receptor Blockade May Curb C. Difficile-Induced Diarrhea

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> Reuters Health Information 2005. © 2005 Reuters Ltd.

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jun 24 - Studies in rabbits show that Clostridium

difficile toxin A leads to enhanced expression of angiotensin II (ANG II),

which, in

turn, mediates mucosal injury and intestinal hypersecretion through angiotensin

subtype 1 receptors (AT1).

>

> The studies also show that AT1 receptor blockade with the ANG II antagonist

losartan inhibits the inflammatory and secretory cascade brought on by C.

difficile

toxin A.

>

> " Our findings suggest that ANG II plays a significant role in the pathogenesis

of C.

difficile toxin-induced diarrhea, " investigators write in the June 15th issue of

The

Journal of Infectious Diseases.

>

> In the rabbit ileum, Dr. L. Guerrant from the University of Virginia

Health

Sciences Center in Charlottesville and colleagues observed that C. difficile

infection

" induced severe mucosal injury, invoked an intense inflammatory reaction and

augmented intestinal secretion. " They also observed elevated levels of ANG II

and the

presence of AT1 receptors in the presence of C. difficile toxin A in rabbit

ileal tissue.

>

> Blocking the AT1 receptor with losartan inhibited the hypersecretory response

to C.

difficile toxin A and also led to a concomitant decrease in ANG II levels.

>

> Pharmacologic inhibition of AT1 receptors " provides a potentially novel

approach to

control of C. difficile-associated diarrhea and C. difficile colitis, " the

investigators

conclude.

>

> J Infect Dis 2005;191:2090-2096.