title: Angioedema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angioedema is a potentially life-threatening occurrence that is encountered by critical care providers. The mechanistic understanding of angioedema syndromes has improved in recent years, and novel medications are available that improve outcomes from these syndromes. This clinically focused review will describe the underlying genetics, pathophysiology, classification and treatment of angioedema syndromes, with an emphasis on the novel pharmacologic agents that have recently become available for acute treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE search was conducted with the MeSH terms angioedema, acquired angioedema, hereditary angioedema type III, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selected publications describing angioedema, clinical trials, diagnosis, management, and genetics were retrieved (reviews, guidelines, clinical trials, case series), and their bibliographies were also reviewed to identify relevant publications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the relevant publications were reviewed, summarized and the information synthesized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data obtained were used to describe the current state of diagnosis and management of various angioedema syndromes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Angioedema is a life-threatening syndrome with multiple subtypes, each with a distinct pathophysiology. We present an evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and suggested management of various subtypes of angioedema. Securing the airway remains the most important intervention, followed by administration of both established and more novel pharmacologic interventions based on disease pathology.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC.2Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: LoVerde
authors.forename: Daniel Clark
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Files
authors.forename: Guha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krishnaswamy
mesh_terms: D058109:Airway Management; D000799:Angioedema / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065094:Bradykinin B2 Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050718:Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D065094:Bradykinin B2 Receptor Antagonists; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D050718:Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C469952:SERPING1 protein, human; C511194:ecallantide; C571093:conestat alfa; C065679:icatibant; D007610:Kallikreins; D001920:Bradykinin