Angioedema

Description

Angioedema is swelling of skin, eyes, mouth and tongue. Swelling appears just underneath the skin. It can be very serious sometimes, when it comes to respiratory airways blockade, due to which the patient cannot breathe. The disorder can be part of allergic reaction connected with the hives. In some patients, this disorder is hereditary (hereditary angioedema) and it occurs as a result of low level of a protein called C1 inhibitor. A Smaller group of patients will have a reaction to a kind of medicine for blood pressure, called ACE (Angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, and it appears as angioedema of lips, eyes, tongue, and mouth. In ACE inhibitors, as frequent causers, are included: captopril, lisinopril, enalapril, ramipril (tritace), fosinopril (Monopril) and others.

Symptoms

Swelling of skin, subcutaneous tissue and mucous membrane around and in the mouth, eye swelling, eyelid swelling, tongue swelling, bruises, watery blisters, difficult breathing, audible breathing (stridor).

Overview

Anamnesis is being taken and physical examination is being done, allegro tests could be done, as well. If doctor suspects on hereditary angioedema, blood analysis could be done, such as the function of C1 inhibitor, complement components C4 and C2.

Specialists

Allergollogy, Immunology

Therapy

If angioedema occurs as a consequence of allergic reaction, the antihistamine is given to the patient. Adrenaline is used for the patient in a life-threatening situation. Oral steroids are sometimes prescribed, such as prednisone, in order to prevent reaction occurring again. Antihistamines are not efficient in case of hereditary angioedema. In such cases following medicines are used: adrenaline and fresh frozen plasma.