Article Text
Abstract
ACE inhibitors (ACEi) are common anti-hypertensive drugs that can cause angioedema. Though classic, or facial angioedema is rare, visceral angioedema is even less common. When angioedema occurs, it typically presents early, within 30 days of initiating therapy. Visceral angioedema most commonly presents with nausea, emesis, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and thus is often mistaken for an episode of gastroenteritis. When a CT scan is obtained, it typically shows characteristic findings, including ascetic fluid, mild mesenteric oedema and thickening of the small bowel. In this case report, we present a patient who did not experience her first episode of visceral angioedema until after she had been on ACEi therapy for 5–7 years. In addition, she experienced recurrent episodes of visceral angioedema that were separated by approximately 4 years at a time. Both of these features make for a particularly unique presentation.
- cardiovascular system
- unwanted effects/adverse reactions
- allergy
- asthma
- drugs: gastrointestinal system
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Footnotes
Contributors AJK, JM and NBP conceived of the concept for the case report. AJK wrote the initial draft. JM and NBP edited and improved upon the initial manuscript. All authors discussed and agreed upon the final manuscript.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient consent for publication Obtained.