Upper airway angioedema as a presentation of childhood systemic lupus erythematosus.

We describe a 10(1/2)-year-old black female who had severe angioedema, possibly triggered by penicillin, with respiratory distress as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus. In this patient, the Cl esterase inhibitor quantitative and functional serum levels were normal. Although there are several case reports with similar presentations in adults, this is the first case report in the pediatric age group.