U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Angioedema

MedGen UID:
1543
Concept ID:
C0002994
Pathologic Function
Synonyms: Angioedemas; Angioneurotic Edema; Angioneurotic Edemas; Edema, Angioneurotic; Edema, Quincke's; Edemas, Angioneurotic; Giant Urticaria; Giant Urticarias; Quincke Edema; Quincke's Edema; Quinckes Edema; Urticaria, Giant; Urticarias, Giant
SNOMED CT: Quincke's disease (41291007); Giant urticaria (400075008); Angioedema (846575004); Angioedema (41291007); Quincke's edema (41291007); Angioneurotic edema (41291007)
 
HPO: HP:0100665
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0010481

Definition

Rapid swelling (edema) of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, mucosa and submucosal tissues of the skin of the face, normally around the mouth, and the mucosa of the mouth and/or throat, as well as the tongue during a period of minutes to several hours. The swelling can also occur elsewhere, typically in the hands. Angioedema is similar to urticaria, but the swelling is subcutaneous rather than on the epidermis. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Anaphylotoxin inactivator deficiency
MedGen UID:
98312
Concept ID:
C0398782
Disease or Syndrome
Carboxypeptidase-N deficiency (CPND) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by episodic angioedema, acute or chronic urticaria, asthma, and/or allergic hypersensitivities such as hay fever. Homozygous individuals as well as their heterozygous family members have levels of carboxypeptidase N that are below the reference range, and heterozygotes are symptomatic, albeit to a generally milder degree (Mathews et al., 1980; Vincent et al., 2024).
Hereditary angioedema type 3
MedGen UID:
346653
Concept ID:
C1857728
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary angioedema is a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe swelling (angioedema). The parts of the body that are most often affected by swelling are the limbs, face, intestinal tract, and airway. Minor trauma or stress may trigger an attack, but swelling often occurs without a known trigger. Episodes involving the intestinal tract cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Swelling in the airway can restrict breathing and lead to life-threatening obstruction of the airway. About one-third of people with this condition develop a non-itchy rash called erythema marginatum during an attack.\n\nSymptoms of hereditary angioedema typically begin in childhood and worsen during puberty.  On average, untreated individuals have swelling episodes every 1 to 2 weeks, and most episodes last for about 3 to 4 days. The frequency and duration of attacks vary greatly among people with hereditary angioedema, even among people in the same family.\n\nHereditary angioedema is broadly divided into two types, which are distinguished by levels of a protein called C1 inhibitor (C1-INH) in the blood. These types are known as hereditary angioedema due to C1-INH deficiency and hereditary angioedema with normal C1-INH. \n\n\n\nHereditary angioedema due to C1-INH deficiency is further divided into two types: type I occurs when C1-INH levels are low, and type II occurs when the C1-INH protein is not functioning correctly. \n\nThe different types of hereditary angioedema have similar signs and symptoms. 
Hereditary angioedema type 1
MedGen UID:
403466
Concept ID:
C2717906
Disease or Syndrome
A form of hereditary angioedema characterized by acute edema in subcutaneous tissues, viscera and/or the upper airway.
Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome 3
MedGen UID:
482544
Concept ID:
C3280914
Disease or Syndrome
Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome-3 is an autosomal dominant immune disorder characterized by the development of cutaneous urticaria, erythema, and pruritus in response to cold exposure. Affected individuals have variable additional immunologic defects, including antibody deficiency, decreased numbers of B cells, defective B cells, increased susceptibility to infection, and increased risk of autoimmune disorders (summary by Ombrello et al., 2012). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of FCAS, see FCAS1 (120100).
Susceptibility to angioedema induced by ACE inhibitors
MedGen UID:
813041
Concept ID:
C3806711
Finding
Approximately 40 million people take ACE inhibitors (ACEi) to treat hypertension and cardiovascular disease. A small proportion of white patients who take ACEi (0.1-0.7%) develop angioedema (AEACEI) (Israili and Hall, 1992; Vleeming et al., 1998), a potentially life-threatening side effect characterized by swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and airway that can lead to suffocation and death if severe. ACEi-associated angioedema is 4 to 5 times more prevalent among African Americans (Brown et al., 1996; Coats, 2002). Other risk factors include female sex, smoking, immunosuppressant therapy, and seasonal allergies. The pathophysiology of ACEi-associated angioedema is thought to be related to increased circulating bradykinin, which is normally degraded by ACE. During pharmacologic ACE inhibition, bradykinin is primarily degraded by aminopeptidase P (summary by Duan et al., 2005 and Woodard-Grice et al., 2010). Aminopeptidase P is encoded by 3 genes: XPNPEP1 (602443) on chromosome 10q25, XPNPEP2 (300145) on chromosome Xq25, and XPNPEP3 (613553) on chromosome 22q13.
Angioedema, hereditary, 4
MedGen UID:
1787336
Concept ID:
C5543503
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary angioedema-4 (HAE4) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by episodic subcutaneous or submucosal edema with onset usually in adulthood. Swelling most commonly involves the face and tongue, sometimes resulting in occlusion of the airway, which can cause death. The larynx, abdomen, and limbs may also be involved. Circulating C1 inhibitor (C1INH) levels and function, as well as plasminogen levels and activity, are normal. Although the disorder is autosomal dominant, there is evidence of incomplete penetrance, variable expressivity, and female predominance. The episodes may be triggered by stress, oral contraceptives, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockades. The pathogenesis is believed to be due to altered plasmin function resulting in enhanced release of bradykinin. Successful clinical management has been achieved with tranexamic acid, which inhibits plasmin, and icatibant, a selective bradykinin B2 receptor (113503) antagonist (summary by Farkas et al., 2021). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of HAE, see 106100.
Angioedema, hereditary, 5
MedGen UID:
1780904
Concept ID:
C5543508
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary angioedema-5 (HAE5) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by localized and self-limiting edema of the subcutaneous or submucosal tissue due to an episodic increase in vascular permeability. Affected individuals have onset of episodic swelling of the face, lips, hands, and abdomen in the second decade of life. Treatment with tranexamic acid may be effective in reducing the severity and frequency of the attacks (summary by Bafunno et al., 2018). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of hereditary angioedema, see 106100.
Angioedema, hereditary, 6
MedGen UID:
1785484
Concept ID:
C5543516
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary angioedema-6 (HAE6) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by onset of episodic subcutaneous and submucosal swelling in adulthood. The face, mouth, and tongue are often affected; some patients have distal limb or abdominal edema. Levels of complement component inhibitor (C1INH; 606860) are normal (summary by Bork et al., 2019). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of HAE, see 106100.
Angioedema, hereditary, 7
MedGen UID:
1784046
Concept ID:
C5543526
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary angioedema-7 (HAE7) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by onset of recurrent episodic swelling of the face, lips, and oral mucosa in the second decade. The disorder is due to abnormal vascular permeability (summary by Ariano et al., 2020). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of HAE, see 106100.
Angioedema, hereditary, 8
MedGen UID:
1780930
Concept ID:
C5543528
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary angioedema-8 (HAE8) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized clinically by recurrent and self-limited episodes of localized edema in various organs, including the face, tongue, larynx, and extremities. In rare cases, swelling of the tongue or larynx can lead to airway obstruction. Abdominal attacks may also occur, resulting in abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The disorder results from enhanced vascular permeability (summary by Bork et al., 2021). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of HAE, see 106100.
Netherton syndrome
MedGen UID:
1802991
Concept ID:
C5574950
Disease or Syndrome
Netherton syndrome (NETH) is a rare and severe autosomal recessive skin disorder characterized by congenital erythroderma, a specific hair-shaft abnormality, and atopic manifestations with high IgE levels. Generalized scaly erythroderma is apparent at or soon after birth and usually persists. Scalp hair is sparse and brittle with a characteristic 'bamboo' shape under light microscopic examination due to invagination of the distal part of the hair shaft to its proximal part. Atopic manifestations include eczema-like rashes, atopic dermatitis, pruritus, hay fever, angioedema, urticaria, high levels of IgE in the serum, and hypereosinophilia. Life-threatening complications are frequent during the neonatal period, including hypernatremic dehydration, hypothermia, extreme weight loss, bronchopneumonia, and sepsis. During childhood, failure to thrive is common as a result of malnutrition, metabolic disorders, chronic erythroderma, persistent cutaneous infections, or enteropathy (summary by Bitoun et al., 2002).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Maurer M, Magerl M, Betschel S, Aberer W, Ansotegui IJ, Aygören-Pürsün E, Banerji A, Bara NA, Boccon-Gibod I, Bork K, Bouillet L, Boysen HB, Brodszki N, Busse PJ, Bygum A, Caballero T, Cancian M, Castaldo A, Cohn DM, Csuka D, Farkas H, Gompels M, Gower R, Grumach AS, Guidos-Fogelbach G, Hide M, Kang HR, Kaplan AP, Katelaris C, Kiani-Alikhan S, Lei WT, Lockey R, Longhurst H, Lumry WR, MacGinnitie A, Malbran A, Martinez Saguer I, Matta JJ, Nast A, Nguyen D, Nieto-Martinez SA, Pawankar R, Peter J, Porebski G, Prior N, Reshef A, Riedl M, Ritchie B, Rafique Sheikh F, Smith WB, Spaeth PJ, Stobiecki M, Toubi E, Varga LA, Weller K, Zanichelli A, Zhi Y, Zuraw B, Craig T
Allergy 2022 Jul;77(7):1961-1990. Epub 2022 Feb 3 doi: 10.1111/all.15214. PMID: 35006617
Zuberbier T, Abdul Latiff AH, Abuzakouk M, Aquilina S, Asero R, Baker D, Ballmer-Weber B, Bangert C, Ben-Shoshan M, Bernstein JA, Bindslev-Jensen C, Brockow K, Brzoza Z, Chong Neto HJ, Church MK, Criado PR, Danilycheva IV, Dressler C, Ensina LF, Fonacier L, Gaskins M, Gáspár K, Gelincik A, Giménez-Arnau A, Godse K, Gonçalo M, Grattan C, Grosber M, Hamelmann E, Hébert J, Hide M, Kaplan A, Kapp A, Kessel A, Kocatürk E, Kulthanan K, Larenas-Linnemann D, Lauerma A, Leslie TA, Magerl M, Makris M, Meshkova RY, Metz M, Micallef D, Mortz CG, Nast A, Oude-Elberink H, Pawankar R, Pigatto PD, Ratti Sisa H, Rojo Gutiérrez MI, Saini SS, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Sekerel BE, Siebenhaar F, Siiskonen H, Soria A, Staubach-Renz P, Stingeni L, Sussman G, Szegedi A, Thomsen SF, Vadasz Z, Vestergaard C, Wedi B, Zhao Z, Maurer M
Allergy 2022 Mar;77(3):734-766. Epub 2021 Oct 20 doi: 10.1111/all.15090. PMID: 34536239
Zuberbier T, Aberer W, Asero R, Abdul Latiff AH, Baker D, Ballmer-Weber B, Bernstein JA, Bindslev-Jensen C, Brzoza Z, Buense Bedrikow R, Canonica GW, Church MK, Craig T, Danilycheva IV, Dressler C, Ensina LF, Giménez-Arnau A, Godse K, Gonçalo M, Grattan C, Hebert J, Hide M, Kaplan A, Kapp A, Katelaris CH, Kocatürk E, Kulthanan K, Larenas-Linnemann D, Leslie TA, Magerl M, Mathelier-Fusade P, Meshkova RY, Metz M, Nast A, Nettis E, Oude-Elberink H, Rosumeck S, Saini SS, Sánchez-Borges M, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Staubach P, Sussman G, Toubi E, Vena GA, Vestergaard C, Wedi B, Werner RN, Zhao Z, Maurer M; Endorsed by the following societies: AAAAI, AAD, AAIITO, ACAAI, AEDV, APAAACI, ASBAI, ASCIA, BAD, BSACI, CDA, CMICA, CSACI, DDG, DDS, DGAKI, DSA, DST, EAACI, EIAS, EDF, EMBRN, ESCD, GA²LEN, IAACI, IADVL, JDA, NVvA, MSAI, ÖGDV, PSA, RAACI, SBD, SFD, SGAI, SGDV, SIAAIC, SIDeMaST, SPDV, TSD, UNBB, UNEV and WAO
Allergy 2018 Jul;73(7):1393-1414. doi: 10.1111/all.13397. PMID: 29336054

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Wang K, Santiago R
Am J Emerg Med 2022 Jun;56:33-44. Epub 2022 Mar 22 doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.03.027. PMID: 35364476
Saini S, Shams M, Bernstein JA, Maurer M
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020 Jun;8(6):1866-1874. Epub 2020 Apr 13 doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.03.030. PMID: 32298850
Seth D, Kamat D
Pediatr Ann 2019 Dec 1;48(12):e473-e478. doi: 10.3928/19382359-20191118-01. PMID: 31830286
Kostis WJ, Shetty M, Chowdhury YS, Kostis JB
Curr Hypertens Rep 2018 Jun 8;20(7):55. doi: 10.1007/s11906-018-0859-x. PMID: 29884969
Bork K
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2014 Feb;34(1):23-31. Epub 2013 Oct 20 doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2013.09.004. PMID: 24262687

Diagnosis

Stitt J
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2024 Aug;44(3):xv-xvi. Epub 2024 May 13 doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2024.04.001. PMID: 38937018
Katial R
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2024 Aug;44(3):xiii-xiv. Epub 2024 May 13 doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2024.04.002. PMID: 38937017
Szymanski K, Schaefer P
Prim Care 2023 Jun;50(2):237-252. Epub 2023 Mar 2 doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2022.11.003. PMID: 37105604
Saini S, Shams M, Bernstein JA, Maurer M
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020 Jun;8(6):1866-1874. Epub 2020 Apr 13 doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.03.030. PMID: 32298850
Patel G, Pongracic JA
Allergy Asthma Proc 2019 Nov 1;40(6):441-445. doi: 10.2500/aap.2019.40.4267. PMID: 31690390

Therapy

Longhurst HJ, Lindsay K, Petersen RS, Fijen LM, Gurugama P, Maag D, Butler JS, Shah MY, Golden A, Xu Y, Boiselle C, Vogel JD, Abdelhady AM, Maitland ML, McKee MD, Seitzer J, Han BW, Soukamneuth S, Leonard J, Sepp-Lorenzino L, Clark ED, Lebwohl D, Cohn DM
N Engl J Med 2024 Feb 1;390(5):432-441. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2309149. PMID: 38294975
Mengel E, Patterson MC, Da Riol RM, Del Toro M, Deodato F, Gautschi M, Grunewald S, Grønborg S, Harmatz P, Héron B, Maier EM, Roubertie A, Santra S, Tylki-Szymanska A, Day S, Andreasen AK, Geist MA, Havnsøe Torp Petersen N, Ingemann L, Hansen T, Blaettler T, Kirkegaard T, Í Dali C
J Inherit Metab Dis 2021 Nov;44(6):1463-1480. Epub 2021 Sep 7 doi: 10.1002/jimd.12428. PMID: 34418116Free PMC Article
Banerji A, Riedl MA, Bernstein JA, Cicardi M, Longhurst HJ, Zuraw BL, Busse PJ, Anderson J, Magerl M, Martinez-Saguer I, Davis-Lorton M, Zanichelli A, Li HH, Craig T, Jacobs J, Johnston DT, Shapiro R, Yang WH, Lumry WR, Manning ME, Schwartz LB, Shennak M, Soteres D, Zaragoza-Urdaz RH, Gierer S, Smith AM, Tachdjian R, Wedner HJ, Hebert J, Rehman SM, Staubach P, Schranz J, Baptista J, Nothaft W, Maurer M; HELP Investigators
JAMA 2018 Nov 27;320(20):2108-2121. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.16773. PMID: 30480729Free PMC Article
Messerli FH, Bangalore S, Bavishi C, Rimoldi SF
J Am Coll Cardiol 2018 Apr 3;71(13):1474-1482. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.01.058. PMID: 29598869
Hubers SA, Brown NJ
Circulation 2016 Mar 15;133(11):1115-24. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018622. PMID: 26976916Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Seth D, Kamat D
Pediatr Ann 2019 Dec 1;48(12):e473-e478. doi: 10.3928/19382359-20191118-01. PMID: 31830286
Solomon SD, McMurray JJV, Anand IS, Ge J, Lam CSP, Maggioni AP, Martinez F, Packer M, Pfeffer MA, Pieske B, Redfield MM, Rouleau JL, van Veldhuisen DJ, Zannad F, Zile MR, Desai AS, Claggett B, Jhund PS, Boytsov SA, Comin-Colet J, Cleland J, Düngen HD, Goncalvesova E, Katova T, Kerr Saraiva JF, Lelonek M, Merkely B, Senni M, Shah SJ, Zhou J, Rizkala AR, Gong J, Shi VC, Lefkowitz MP; PARAGON-HF Investigators and Committees
N Engl J Med 2019 Oct 24;381(17):1609-1620. Epub 2019 Sep 1 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1908655. PMID: 31475794
Antia C, Baquerizo K, Korman A, Bernstein JA, Alikhan A
J Am Acad Dermatol 2018 Oct;79(4):599-614. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.01.020. PMID: 30241623
Druey KM, Parikh SM
J Allergy Clin Immunol 2017 Sep;140(3):663-670. Epub 2016 Dec 22 doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.10.042. PMID: 28012935Free PMC Article
Hernandez L, Papalia S, Pujalte GG
Prim Care 2016 Sep;43(3):477-85. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2016.04.002. PMID: 27545736

Clinical prediction guides

Riedl MA, Tachdjian R, Lumry WR, Craig T, Karakaya G, Gelincik A, Stobiecki M, Jacobs JS, Gokmen NM, Reshef A, Gompels MM, Manning ME, Bordone L, Newman KB, Treadwell S, Wang S, Yarlas A, Cohn DM; OASIS-HAE Team
N Engl J Med 2024 Jul 4;391(1):21-31. Epub 2024 May 31 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2402478. PMID: 38819395
González de Olano D, Cain WV, Bernstein JA, Akin C
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2023 Jul;11(7):1989-1996. Epub 2023 May 21 doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.05.012. PMID: 37220812
Porebski G, Kwitniewski M, Reshef A
Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2021 Jun;60(3):404-415. Epub 2021 Feb 9 doi: 10.1007/s12016-021-08845-6. PMID: 33560480Free PMC Article
Maurer M, Abuzakouk M, Bérard F, Canonica W, Oude Elberink H, Giménez-Arnau A, Grattan C, Hollis K, Knulst A, Lacour JP, Lynde C, Marsland A, McBride D, Nakonechna A, Ortiz de Frutos J, Proctor C, Sussman G, Sweeney C, Tian H, Weller K, Wolin D, Balp MM
Allergy 2017 Dec;72(12):2005-2016. Epub 2017 Jul 10 doi: 10.1111/all.13209. PMID: 28543019Free PMC Article
Yancy CW, Jessup M, Bozkurt B, Butler J, Casey DE Jr, Colvin MM, Drazner MH, Filippatos GS, Fonarow GC, Givertz MM, Hollenberg SM, Lindenfeld J, Masoudi FA, McBride PE, Peterson PN, Stevenson LW, Westlake C
Circulation 2017 Aug 8;136(6):e137-e161. Epub 2017 Apr 28 doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000509. PMID: 28455343

Recent systematic reviews

Beard N, Frese M, Smertina E, Mere P, Katelaris C, Mills K
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022 Nov 3;11(11):CD013403. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013403.pub2. PMID: 36326435Free PMC Article
Shetty R, Basheer FT, Poojari PG, Thunga G, Chandran VP, Acharya LD
Diabetes Metab Syndr 2022 Mar;16(3):102427. Epub 2022 Feb 12 doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2022.102427. PMID: 35217468
Krishnaswamy G
Crit Care Med 2021 May 1;49(5):838-857. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000004893. PMID: 33653974
Kaegi C, Wuest B, Schreiner J, Steiner UC, Vultaggio A, Matucci A, Crowley C, Boyman O
Front Immunol 2019;10:1990. Epub 2019 Sep 6 doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01990. PMID: 31555262Free PMC Article
Chu DK, Wood RA, French S, Fiocchi A, Jordana M, Waserman S, Brożek JL, Schünemann HJ
Lancet 2019 Jun 1;393(10187):2222-2232. Epub 2019 Apr 25 doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30420-9. PMID: 31030987

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Recent activity

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...