Intensive care medicine

Histamine

Receptor

Dermatology

Angioedema

Bradykinin

Internal medicine

Hereditary angioedema

Medicine

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In Practice

Angioedema is an acute swelling of the deeper layers of the skin or mucosa resulting from a transient increase in vascular permeability. Angioedema can occur in the absence or presence of hives, be hereditary or acquired, and be caused by various potential mediators, including histamine and bradykinin. Bradykinin-mediated angioedema can be difficult to diagnose but is responsible for a disproportionate percentage of the serious morbidity and mortality associated with angioedema. Our understanding of the basic biology of angioedema has dramatically expanded over recent years. The classification of angioedema has correspondently undergone major changes. Optimal management of patients with angioedema requires that an accurate diagnosis be established and that treatment be tailored to the patient's specific form of angioedema. In this article, we review the biology of bradykinin-mediated angioedema as well as the clinical approach to the evaluation of angioedema with a focus on bradykinin-mediated angioedema. Recognizing how the underlying pathophysiology and mechanisms of bradykinin dysregulation contribute to angioedema can help guide the clinical approach to the patient.

Angioedema Due to Bradykinin Dysregulation