The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website
See PMID 30075570. Review at PMID 28291095. Major risk is UAO, with consequent asphyxia. Can be followed by irreversible hypoxic brain damage/death. See also under VIIIg. May occur in isolation or accompany drug-induced anaphylaxis. Airway angioedema can be in the form of acute swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth floor, uvula, pharynx, larynx, glottis, subglottic area and/or upper trachea. This can cause acute upper airway obstruction (UAO) and asphyxia. May overlap with IVb. Expedient identification the airway by endoscopy and maintenance of airway patency are crucially important, as if the UAO progresses emergent risky tracheostomy can be required. Icatibant may alleviate all manifestations of drug-induced angioedema (PMID: 22936825). Rebound phenomenon can occur after an initial falsely reassuring period of improvement. NPPE (IIg) may occur as a secondary complication. Reviews and series at PMID 20447725, 20667117, 20922352, 22552531, 22936825, 22976464, 25059449. Angioedema can also involve the bowel wall in concomitance, causing abdominal pain or cramping or simulate an acute abdomen (PMID: 20376210, 21785085, 22867837)
Publications
Unilateral angioedema.
The American journal of emergency medicine 2021 Nov;49;302-303 — 2021 Nov — 302-303
Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitor Angioedema Requiring Admission to an Intensive Care Unit.
The American journal of medicine 2015 Jul;128;785-9 — 2015 Jul — 785-9
Angioedema of the tongue.
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne 2008 Apr 22;178;1136 — 2008 Apr 22 — 1136