Effects of Two Different Cold Application Methods After Rhinoplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of two methods of cold application on eye ecchymosis, periorbital edema, pain around the eyes and face, and patient comfort in postoperative rhinoplasty patients. Patients were randomly divided and evaluated in two groups: an ice in disposable latex gloves (IDLG) group and a cooling gel eye mask (CGEM) group. We used the CONSORT checklist to report the study. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, gender, preoperative blood pressure, respiration, fever status, oxygen saturation, or postoperative vital signs. Patients in the IDLG group had significantly higher scores for pain around the eyes, facial pain, and periorbital edema on the first postoperative day, and significantly higher facial edema scores during the first postoperative hour (p ≤ .05). Patients in the CGEM group reported that they slept more comfortably (p ≤ .05). The results of our study showed that CGEMs reduce pain, periorbital edema, and facial edema after rhinoplasty.

Acute angioedema in Cape Town emergency centres and a suggested algorithm to simplify and improve management.

BACKGROUND: Angioedema is the most common acute allergic presentation to emergency centres (EC), with hospitalisation rates increasing in high-income countries. Angioedema can complicate with life-threatening laryngeal obstruction. There are no local data; therefore, we aimed to characterise acute angioedema cases presenting to ECs and develop a simple management algorithm. OBJECTIVE: To characterise the clinical presentation, management and outcomes of acute angioedema cases presenting to ECs. Based on these findings, we developed a management algorithm for acute angioedema to improve the care of acute angioedema in South Africa (SA). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective folder review of all patients admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital (tertiary) and Mitchells Plain District Hospital (secondary) ECs from 1  June 2018 to 31  June 2020. Using ICD-10 coding, folders of adults ≥18 years with possible angioedema presenting to the ECs were screened. An allergist extracted demographics, medical history, management and outcome data for each angioedema event. RESULTS: A total of 142 acute angioedema episodes were included, with a median (interquartile range) age of 42 (28 - 58) years, and 62% of patients were female. The majority (124/142, 87%) of acute angioedema EC presentations involved swelling above the shoulders, with airway involvement in 20 (14%) patients, with two patients requiring intubation. Nineteen (13%) patients required admission, with five (26%) admitted to high care/intensive care. Drug-induced angioedema was the most common cause, with 64/142 (45%) linked to a known offending drug, 42/64 (65.6%) being angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I). Critical information to guide angioedema management, including past personal/family allergy history, and duration of angioedema prior to EC visit, was not recorded in 64.7% and 37.8% of EC records, respectively. Unnecessary treatment with corticosteroids or antihistamines occurred in 19/53 (36%) and 16/53 (30%) cases with bradykinin-mediated angioedema ACE-I angioedema and hereditary angioedema). Overall, only 36/142 (25%) of angioedema patients were connected to allergy care. CONCLUSION: Angioedema is the most common allergy presentation to two ECs in Cape Town, SA. Bradykinin-mediated angioedema secondary to ACE-I therapy is the single most common offender, and was not appropriately managed in more than a third of cases. Based on these findings, we have developed a management algorithm that easily stratifies patients into bradykinin or mast cell-mediated angioedema with a step-by-step management approach that is applicable to the SA context. Ongoing awareness and education on allergy emergencies are required to ensure accurate diagnosis of less common causes of angioedema (particularly bradykinin-mediated angioedema) and linkage to allergy specialist care.

[Facial swelling due to angioedema: often mast cell mediated, but not always]. / Gelaatszwellingen door angio-oedeem.

Most cases of angioedema are mast cell mediated. We present three patients with angioedema, who were admitted to our emergency room or outpatient clinic. One of them did have mast cell mediated angioedema, despite insufficient response to initial antihistamine treatment. The other patients had more rare cases of angioedema, i.e. hereditary angioedema with C1-inhibitor deficiency and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor associated angioedema. We discuss similarities and differences in symptoms, diagnosis and treatment between these causes of angioedema. We recommend keeping the differential diagnosis of angioedema in mind when a patient with angioedema is presented, including rarer pathophysiological explanations.

An unusual case of acquired angioedema associated with monoclonal gammopathies of uncertain significance

Acquired angioedema (AAE) is a rare disease due to the C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency. Clinically, its symptoms are similar to hereditary angioedema (HAE) with hereditary C1-INH deficiency. Both conditions have the potential to cause upper airway obstruction, which can be fatal in clinical practice and thus require intense attention. Here, we’d like to discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis and follow up of a special case of AAE associated with monoclonal gammopathies of unknown significance (MGUS) with recurrent upper airway obstruction. The patient was regularly followed up after being discharged from our ward. Measurements of C3–C4 levels were carried out by a hematological test. Due to the rarity of such a disease, especially in Chinese people, relevant diagnosis methods are missing in this patient, so the patient was only diagnosed with AAE-C1-INH associated with MGUS clinically. The latest follow up showed that he still underwent recurrent upper airway obstruction; thus, he remained in a tracheostomy state due to a lack of proper medication prophylaxis and died eventually. This unusual case reminds emergency physicians to pay attention to such disease during clinical practice, and relevant diagnosis method should be improved (AU)

Neurologic and Psychiatric Manifestations of Bradykinin-Mediated Angioedema: Old and New Challenges.

Neurologic manifestations have been occasionally described in patients with bradykinin-mediated angioedema. The existing literature is currently limited to case series and case reports mainly described in the hereditary forms (HAE) concerning central nervous system (CNS) involvement. On the contrary, very little is known about peripheral and autonomic nervous system manifestations. CNS involvement in HAE may present with symptoms including severe headaches, visual disturbance, seizures, and various focal and generalized deficits. In addition, a stroke-like clinical picture may present in HAE patients. In turn, some drugs used in patients with cardiovascular and neurologic disorders, such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), may produce medication-induced angioedema, resulting in a diagnostic challenge. Finally, most patients with HAE have higher levels of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. With this review, we aimed to provide an organized and detailed analysis of the existing literature on neurologic and psychiatric manifestations of HAE to shed light on these potentially invalidating symptoms and lay the foundation for further personalized diagnostic pathways for patients affected by this protean disease.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor-Induced Angioedema.

Angioedema is a well-recognized and potentially lethal complication of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) therapy. In ACEi-induced angioedema, bradykinin accumulates due to a decrease in its metabolism by ACE, the enzyme that is primarily responsible for this function. The action of bradykinin at bradykinin type 2 receptors leads to increased vascular permeability and the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous and submucosal space. Patients with ACEi-induced angioedema are at risk for airway compromise because of the tendency for the face, lips, tongue, and airway structures to be affected. The emergency physician should focus on airway evaluation and management when treating patients with ACEi-induced angioedema.

Mimics of Allergy and Angioedema: Scombroid, Mast Cell Activation Disorders, and Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia.

Scombroid poisoning, systemic mastocytosis, and hereditary alpha tryptasemia all present with episodes that resemble allergic reactions. Knowledge regarding systemic mastocytosis and hereditary alpha tryptasemia is quickly evolving. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and strategies to identify and diagnose are discussed. Evidence-based management in the emergency setting and beyond is also explored and summarized. Key differences are described between these events and allergic reactions.

A Case Report of Hereditary Angioedema: Challenges in Diagnosis and Management.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder which causes bradykinin mediated angioedema. Although it can be life threatening, HAE may be underdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness of the disease and limited access to laboratory testing. Here, we report a case of HAE which was diagnosed only after the patient was referred for COVID-19 vaccination even though he had been experiencing recurrent angioedema for the past 30 years.

Nonepisodic Angioedema with Eosinophilia Following Receipt of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine.

Angioedema with eosinophilia (AE) is a rare disease of unknown etiology characterized by episodic (EAE) or nonepisodic AE (NEAE). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA-based vaccines function as immunogens and intrinsic adjuvants and have been shown to be safe in large-scale trials. However, the long-term adverse reactions, especially those related to eosinophilic complications, have not been fully clarified. We herein report a case of self-limited but severe NEAE that developed in a young woman one week after receiving the second BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. The symptoms that impaired her activities of daily living, such as edema, gradually resolved with supportive care over 10 weeks without corticosteroid treatment.

Acquired Angioedema in Selected Neoplastic Diseases.

Background and Objectives. Acquired angioedema is a relatively common revelation accompanying some diseases such as autoimmune or cancer. The study aimed to assess the incidence of one subtype of angioedema-C1-INH-AAE (acquired angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency). Material and methods. The study was retrospective and based on 1 312 patients with a final diagnosis of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or lung cancer: 723 women and 589 men with a mean age of 58.2 ± 13.5 years. The cancer diagnosis according to the ICD (International Classification of Diseases)-10 code, medical history including TNM (Tumour, Node, Metastasis) staging, histopathology, and assessment of the occurrence of C1-INH-AAE angioedema were analysed. Results. C1-INH-AAE occurred more often in patients with cancer than in the control group, as follows: 327 (29%) vs. 53 (6%) for p < 0.05. C1-INH-AAEs were observed most often in the group of patients diagnosed with breast cancer compared to colorectal and lung groups: 197 (37%) vs. 108 (26%) vs. 22 (16%) (p < 0.05). A higher incidence of C1-INH-AAE was observed in the early stages of breast cancer. However, there was no relationship between the occurrence of C1-INH-AAE and the BRCA1 (Breast Cancer gene 1)/BRCA2 (Breast Cancer gene 2) mutation or histopathological types of breast cancer. Conclusion. Angioedema type C1-INH-AAE occurs more often in patients with selected neoplastic diseases, especially in the early stages of breast cancer.

[Angioedema without Urticaria: Medical History and Findings]. / Angioödeme ohne Urtikaria: Anamnese und Befunde.

Angioedema without Urticaria: Medical History and Findings Abstract. Abstracts: We present the case of a woman with repeated attacks of angioedema without wheals. Given that there was no benefit from systemic steroid and antihistamines therapy, we interpretated the clinical picture as bradykinin- (and not histamine-) induced. Owing to the late onset and a negative family history, we suspected a case of angioedema due to acquired C1-INH deficiency. This hypothesis was later confirmed by specific hematological tests. We therefore started a specific prophylaxis and therapy in case of acute attacks.

Prolonged angioedema after Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

This case reports a woman in her 40s with a history of allergic reaction to shellfish and iodine who presented with tongue angioedema, difficulty breathing and chest tightness after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccine. Her angioedema remained for 10 days post-exposure to the vaccine, requiring 3 days of epinephrine infusion. She was discharged with advice to avoid further mRNA vaccines. This case highlights the increasing awareness needed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) allergy and the protracted nature of her reaction. A firm conclusion cannot be reached based on a single case report. More research is needed to understand whether there is a causal relationship between the BNT162b2 vaccine and PEG allergy. Awareness regarding PEG allergy and the complexities associated with it is important and needs to be raised due to its prevalent use in diverse industries.