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Acute Angioedema Overview of Angioedema Treatment

Overview of Angioedema Treatment

The goals of emergency treatment of angioedema are to prevent spontaneous eruption, to maintain a patent airway if eruption does occur, and to stop progression of disease.
Laryngeal edema may occur rapidly. In these cases, a definitive airway such as an endotracheal tube should be established. If the airway cannot be effectively secured with an endotracheal tube, a surgical airway is indicated, usually in the form of an emergency cricothyrotomy.
Life-threatening airway obstruction (if swelling occurs in the throat) and anaphylactic reactions are possible complications.

Treatment of angioedema includes histamine blockers (H1 and H2), steroids, and, in those with severe symptoms, epinephrine (intramuscular or subcutaneous).
However, hereditary angioedema (HAE) is generally refractory to treatment with these drugs. Anabolic steroids (eg, danazol), a C1 esterase inhibitor, or a kallikrein inhibitor (ecallantide) may be used for the acute phase of an attack of HAE.

For more information on angioedema, see Acquired Angioedema, Hereditary Angioedema, and Pediatric Angioedema.

Patient education

A helpful resource for patients and their family members is the Hereditary AngioEdema Association.

For patient education information, see the Allergy Center and Skin, Hair, and Nails Center, as well as Hives and Angioedema.

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