Isolated Unilateral Tongue Oedema: The Adverse Effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Title:Isolated Unilateral Tongue Oedema: The Adverse Effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Volume: 7 Issue: 5

Author(s): Edmund Leung, Marcelino Yazbek Hanna, Nadeem Tehami and James Francombe

Affiliation:

Keywords: ACE inhibitor, swollen tongue, angioedema, haemodynamically, hypertension, Quinckes, subcutaneous, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (mTOR), apyrexial

Abstract: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) are widely used to treat benign hypertension. These drugs are generally well tolerated. Serious side effects such as angio-oedema are very rare.

The authors report a 64-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of liver transplant on Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, who attended Emergency department with angio-oedema only on the left side of her tongue. Her airway was patent and she was haemodynamically stable. Trauma was denied. Her physician had 2 days earlier commenced her on Lisinopril for newly diagnosed benign hypertension. Intravenous steroids and anti-histamine were immediately administered. A good response of oedema subsidence was noted.

In general, angio-oedema can present in a spectrum of severity. Precipitating factors are often difficult to pre-determine and avoid. Early recognition of risk factors for and diagnosis of angio-oedema can often be life-saving.

Cite this article as:

Leung Edmund, Yazbek Hanna Marcelino, Tehami Nadeem and Francombe James, Isolated Unilateral Tongue Oedema: The Adverse Effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Current Drug Safety 2012; 7 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574886311207050010