title: Coexistence of angioedema alone with impaired glucose tolerance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) exhibit recurrent angioedema. As of yet, the pathogenesis of angioedema in CSU is largely unclear, especially when angioedema occurs in patients who do not develop wheals. Over the past years, we and others have repeatedly observed that patients with recurrent angioedema alone exhibit impaired glucose tolerance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance in these patients and to compare the results to those of CSU patients who do not develop angioedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 29 patients with angioedema alone (15 women, mean age 43.2 ± 12.8 years) and 33 CSU patients (17 women, mean age 41.9 ± 17 years) were investigated and compared for clinical features and laboratory values, including fasting and random blood glucose levels, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c%). All patients were subjected to oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fasting plasma glucose levels, random blood glucose levels and OGTT glucose levels were significantly higher in patients with angioedema alone as compared to CSU patients. Glucose tolerance was impaired in 17 of 29 patients with angioedema alone (58.6%) and only in 2 of 33 CSU patients (6.1%). Patients were found to have an increased risk of high glucose (OR 1.74) and HbA1c (OR 1.83) blood levels and of developing a high BMI (OR 1.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recurrent angioedema in patients who do not develop wheals appears to be associated with impaired glucose tolerance and elevated blood glucose levels. We recommend blood glucose measurements in patients with recurrent angioedema alone.
authors: Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Rogala
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Bozek
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Glück
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Rymarczyk
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Jarzab
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Maurer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000799:Angioedema / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin