Incidence and Treatment Of Angioedema In a Third Level Spanish Hospital

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Rationale

Corticosteroids and antihistamines are conventional drugs for angioedema without urticaria (AE), but this treatment is inefficient in some of them. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and characteristics of patients with AE at the Emergency room (ER) of a third level Spanish Hospital and compare them to patients with AE-associated urticaria (U-AE). Those with a poor or non-response to these treatments were quantified.

Methods

Observational study from January-June 2013. Patients older than 14 years old, with AE, U-AE or Urticaria (UR) were included.

Results

At the ER, 74.411 patients were attended. Angioedema without urticaria was found in 0.17%, U-AE in 0.15% (24.66 % of urticarial patients) and UR in 0.43%. Mean age and gender were similar in all groups (AE: 37.0±20.1 (SD) years, median: 44, U-AE: 42.21±18.32, median: 40, UR 44.31±19.80, median: 41, p=0.336. Females 58.99%, 54.95% and 58.70% respectively (p=0.69). The facial location was present in 98.45% of AE (14% tongue), pharyngolaryngeal edema appeared in 44.96% and 28.68% had peripheral

Conclusions

The incidence of AE is low but similar to the AE-associated Urticaria. It’s major location is facial, half of it associated to upper respiratory symptoms which endure additional risk. All patients with U-AE responded to antihistamines and corticoids, while the 6% of isolated angioedema were resistant. These are presumably kinins-mediated AE, that need alternative drugs for treatment.

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