Does angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use exacerbate hereditary angioedema?

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Approximately 2% of angioedema (AE) patients have a hereditary or an acquired deficiency of the complement 1 (C1) esterase inhibitor (C1 INH) gene. Some case reports indicate an association between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) use and exacerbation of hereditary AE (HAE).

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the association between HAE and ACEI use in a larger patient population.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review of patients who presented with AE and patients with diagnostic serum assays for functional C1 INH, C1 INH antigenic protein, C1q, C1q immune complex (C1q IC), and complement 4 (C4) regardless of medical complaint. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS:

A total of 1594 patients had complement levels measured (136 C1 INH, 55 C1q, 10 C1q IC, and 1500 C4), of which 156 (9.7%) patients presented with AE. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use was documented in 747 (47%) patients. Low C1 INH was detected in one patient with recurrent AE who was not taking ACEI. Another patient who presented with recurrent AE was found to have systemic lupus erythematosus with abnormal C4, C1q, and C1q IC, but normal C1 INH. A low C4 level was present in 94 patients, 4 of which had AE.

CONCLUSIONS:

The risk of exacerbating HAE by ACEI might be present, but we did not find any association in this retrospective study. Further studies are needed to determine the existence of this association.

• Authors: Getaw Worku Hassen, Ting Jia Tu, Daniel Hsiang Wei, Albert Hwang, Romus Lamothe, Ana Costea, Lydia Liyun Liu, Tennyson Smith, Felicia Mualim, Paul Johnston, Jennifer Ming Wai Ng, Shakeel Usmani, Hossein Kalantari
• Journal: The Journal of emergency medicine (J Emerg Med) Vol. 45 Issue 4 Pg. 602-8 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 0736-4679 [Print] United States
• PMID: 23890533 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
• Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein
• Complement C4
• Complement C1q

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Angioedemas, Hereditary (blood, chemically induced)
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (adverse effects)
• Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein (metabolism)
• Complement C1q (metabolism)
• Complement C4 (metabolism)
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies