CASE REPORT   Open access

Italian Journal of Emergency Medicine 2022 August;11(2):119-22

DOI: 10.23736/S2532-1285.22.00133-1

Copyright © 2022 THE AUTHORS

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lingua: Inglese

Use of C1 esterase inhibitor (Berinert®) for ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema at the Emergency Department

Stefano GIORDANO ¹ ✉, Giulia TIOZZO ¹, Andrea TIOZZO ²

¹ School of Specialization in Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; ² Emergency Department, “Madonna della Navicella” Hospital, Chioggia, Venice, Italy

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are widely used in western countries but are considered the main cause of angioedema induced by drugs. Angioedema is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by transient swelling of subcutaneous and submucosal tissues, typically involving the airways, and not responding to emergency treatments such as antihistamines, corticosteroids, and epinephrine. C1 esterase inhibitor concentrate (Berinert^®, King of Prussia, PA, USA) is generally used to treat severe attack of hereditary angioedema. In this paper we describe a case of severe ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema in which the use of Berinert^® was useful to determine significant improvement in patient clinical conditions and to prevent further complications.

KEY WORDS: Angioedema; Complement C1 inhibitor protein; Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; Emergency medicine