Knowra Angioedema Angioedema Angioedema is sudden swelling beneath the skin or mucous membranes caused by fluid leaking from blood vessels. It commonly affects the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Bradykinin : Bradykinin is a peptide that widens blood vessels and increases their permeability, contributing to pain and inflammation. Excess bradykinin drives many nonallergic episodes, especially in hereditary and ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema.
Hereditary angioedema : Hereditary angioedema is a genetic disorder causing recurrent swelling attacks, commonly through bradykinin excess. It is a distinct inherited form, often linked to C1 inhibitor deficiency or dysfunction.
Anaphylaxis : Anaphylaxis is a rapid, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction involving multiple organ systems. Angioedema of the tongue or throat can accompany anaphylaxis and signal an airway emergency.
Urticaria : Urticaria is an eruption of transient, raised, itchy wheals caused by localized skin swelling. Unlike deeper angioedema, urticaria affects superficial skin and commonly itches.
Urticaria and angioedema : Urticaria and angioedema are related patterns of transient swelling affecting superficial skin and deeper tissues, respectively. The paired conditions are often assessed together because they can share allergic causes.
Mast cell : A mast cell is an immune cell that releases histamine and other mediators during allergic and inflammatory responses. Mast-cell mediators cause the rapid vascular leakage seen in many allergic episodes.
ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema : ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema is swelling associated with medicines that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme. ACE inhibitors can reduce bradykinin breakdown and trigger swelling even after prolonged use.
Epinephrine : Epinephrine is a medication that rapidly counteracts severe allergic reactions by stimulating alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. It is first-line treatment when angioedema occurs as part of anaphylaxis.
Lymphedema : Lymphedema is persistent tissue swelling caused by impaired drainage of lymphatic fluid. It generally develops and persists through lymphatic dysfunction rather than sudden vascular leakage.
Allergy : An allergy is an immune response to a substance that is usually harmless to most people. Allergic reactions are one common cause, though many angioedema episodes are not allergic.
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