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Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are a widely used antihypertensive modality.
While they have a favorable side effect profile, there is a .1% to .2% incidence of
potentially life threatening angioedema. The edema usually presents in the head and
neck, especially the face, lips, tongue, and glottis. Patients may initially be treated
with standard antiallergic therapy; however, the situation may dictate a more aggressive
therapeutic approach. The authors present the case of a patient who presented with
angioedema 18 times over a 3-year period to qualified emergency physicians before
the correct diagnosis of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema
was made. Despite recent literature on the subject, there appears to be a lack of
familiarization among emergency department physicians regarding this relatively common
adverse effect.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 20,
1992
Received:
March 9,
1992
Identification
Copyright
© 1992 Published by Elsevier Inc.
