title: Hereditary angioneurotic oedema: an unusual cause of recurring abdominal pain.
abstract: Two patients with hereditary angioneurotic oedema, a condition characterized by repeated episodes of abdominal pain and oedema, and by an absence of complement-1 esterase inhibitor activity in the plasma are presented in detail. Both underwent multiple surgical procedures before the diagnosis was established. Abdominal pain is often the presenting complaint, and although a complete history will usually lead to the proper diagnosis, cases in which the family history is not clear can present a diagnostic dilemma. Characteristic radiological demonstration of localized intestinal oedema will only be obtained if studies are performed early during the acute attack.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D000799:Angioedema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004950:Esterases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010375:Pedigree; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D004950:Esterases