Angioneurotic edemas of the upper aerodigestive tract after ACE-inhibitor treatment.
There are rare cases in which inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme can cause an angioneurotic edema of the upper aerodigestive tract. The pathomechanism of this side effect depends on an interaction of the drug with hormones regulating vascular permeability, such as the kallikrein kinin system and the prostaglandin system. Angioedema is characterized by subcutaneous or submucosal swellings, which usually affect the lips, soft palate, tongue and larynx. Pathomechanisms, differential diagnosis and treatment of ACE-inhibitor-induced edema of the upper aerodigestive tract are described in three case reports.
Tisch
M
M
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery, Federal Armed Forces Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081 Ulm, Germany. matthias.tisch@extern.uni-ulm.de
Lampl
L
L
Groh
A
A
Maier
H
H
D000799:Angioedema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004825:Epiglottis; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014059:Tongue
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors