Intermittent visceral edema induced by long-term enalapril administration.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of intermittent visceral angioedema associated with long-term enalapril use.


METHODS
A 72-year-old white woman developed severe abdominal pain as a result of visceral angioedema associated with long-term enalapril therapy. She had been taking enalapril 20 mg/day for 9 years prior to the first reported episodes of abdominal pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Visceral angioedema associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors is a documented adverse effect. However, onset of symptoms has never been reported after 9 years of use. Not until 2 years after initial presentation were the symptoms correlated to enalapril administration. Since discontinuation of enalapril, the patient has not reported any symptoms for >2 years. An objective causality assessment categorized this adverse drug event as a result of enalapril as possible.


CONCLUSIONS
Development of angioedema from ACE inhibitors occurs in <1% of the population. Limited case reports have identified intermittent visceral angioedema from ACE inhibitors. However, it is important to recognize that this adverse effect can also occur in patients who have been treated with ACE inhibitor therapy for several years.
Orr
Katherine K
KK
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881-2020, USA. KellyO@etal.uri.edu
Myers
James R
JR
D000368:Aged; D000799:Angioedema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014781:Viscera
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004656:Enalapril