title: [Angioneurotic edema caused by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors].
abstract: Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) may cause angioneurotic oedema. In order to define the clinical spectrum of this important adverse effect, we analysed data on 60 patients with angioneurotic oedema notified to the Drug Commission of the German Medical Association, after taking captopril (n = 24), enalapril (n = 25) or lisinopril (n = 11). In 48 cases the oedema affected the face, tongue and pharynx, while swelling of the extremities (n = 4), the trunk (n = 2) or the genitalia (n = 1) was observed less frequently. While oedema appeared most often after 1 to 21 days, it started within an hour in one patient, and only after 6 months of therapy in five patients. After discontinuation of the ACE inhibitor, the angioneurotic oedema resolved within 72 hours; additional therapeutic measures (glucocorticoids, antihistamines, adrenaline, C1 inhibitors) did not shorten the recovery time. In view of the increasing use of ACE inhibitors, the features of this unusual adverse reaction need to be widely recognized, since angioneurotic oedema of the larynx is potentially life-threatening.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Würzburg.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wernze
mesh_terms: D000799:Angioedema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002216:Captopril / Q000009:adverse effects; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004656:Enalapril / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017706:Lisinopril; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D004656:Enalapril; D002216:Captopril; D017706:Lisinopril; D004837:Epinephrine
vernacular_title: Angioneurotisches Odem durch Angiotensin-Konversionsenzym-Hemmer.