[The multiple etiologies of angioedema].
Angioedema is a frequent disorder with multiple aetiologies. Angioedemas associated with urticaria are usually caused by histamine release and respond to anti-histamines and adrenalin. They include allergic angioedemas, anaphylactoid reactions (mostly drug-induced, e.g. NSAID), physical angioedemas and recurrent idiopathic angioedema. Bradykinin probably plays a causative role in the pathogenesis of ACE-inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker related angioedemas, as well as in the pathogenesis of the rare hereditary or acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency angioedemas. Urticaria is then typically absent and anti-histamines, as well as adrenalin, are ineffective.
Service d'immunologie et d'allergie, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. Stephanie.Petitpierre@chuv.ch
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D000799:Angioedema / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans