title: Acute angioedema:  recognition and management in the emergency department.
abstract: Angioedema is characterized by localized swelling of subcutaneous tissues or mucosa of the upper respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. Laryngeal involvement may threaten airway patency and can be fatal if not addressed promptly. There are several distinct subtypes of angioedema, caused by different pathological processes involving a range of proinflammatory mediators. In the emergency department, it is essential not only that acute angioedema is identified as quickly as possible but also that the likely working diagnosis is established so that the most effective treatment may be administered to resolve potentially life-threatening swelling. In this paper, we present an overview of the various types of angioedema, and offer a practical diagnostic and therapeutic approach to their management.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, St George's Hospital, London, UK. jaiganesh@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Thiagarajan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaiganesh
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hollingsworth
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughan
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamara
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bethune
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D000465:Algorithms; D000799:Angioedema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D054179:Angioedemas, Hereditary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D001920:Bradykinin