Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewHow Common Is It?By EthnicityBy Age and GenderCauses and Risk FactorsWhat Are the Mortality Rates for Angioedema?Screening and Early Detection
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
How Common Is It?
By Ethnicity
By Age and Gender
Causes and Risk Factors
What Are the Mortality Rates for Angioedema?
Screening and Early Detection
This article will explain what you need to know about types of angioedema, who is at risk for it and why, and the importance of screening and early detection.
Albina Gavrilovic / Getty Images
Angioedema is a swelling (edema) of the tissue layer located under the skin or mucous membrane. It most commonly affects soft tissues on the eyelids, mouth, orgenitalsbut can also affect the lungs, digestive tract, arms and legs, and throat.
Symptoms of Angioedema
How Common Is Angioedema?
The prevalence of angioedema varies depending on its cause. Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare type of angioedema. It affects an estimated 1 in 50,000 people in the United States.
Acquired angioedema or AAE is even less common. It is a nonallergic type that affects an estimated 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 500,000 people.
Allergic angioedema is the most common type of angioedema. It’s responsible for an estimated 1 million emergency department visits in the United States each year.
Black Americans have a higher rate of incidence than other U.S. populations for a type of angioedema calledangiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitorangioedema, or ACEI angioedema.
This type of angioedema is associated with certain medicines, including a commonly prescribed blood pressure drug class called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors such as Lisinopril and some blood pressure medications. Research reveals that with tens of millions of people taking ACEIs, the incidence of ACEI angioedema is rising.
Significantly, half of all cases of angioedema occur in those aged 50, suggesting age plays a major role.
Gender differences play a well-documented role, too. It’s been said for decades that women with HAE experience worse symptoms and more attacks than men with HAE.
The Role of HormonesConditions such as taking birth control pills (oral contraceptives) and experiencing hormonal changes associated with pregnancy can also trigger angioedema attacks in women.
The Role of Hormones
Conditions such as taking birth control pills (oral contraceptives) and experiencing hormonal changes associated with pregnancy can also trigger angioedema attacks in women.
Causes of Angioedema and Risk Factors
Common causes of angioedema and associated risk factors for triggers include allergies and conditions listed below:
Causes and Treatment of Swollen Finger Joints
Typically, angioedema isn’t life-threatening. When it causes swelling in the throat and mouth, or when it’s associated withallergy-triggered anaphylactic shock, though, it can lead to suffocation and can be fatal. Immediate assessment of the airway is critical to ensure breathing is not compromised due to swelling. Over the same time period, while other angioedema-related diseases remained rare, nonhereditary angioedema deaths reportedly increased.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderAngioedema can quickly worsen. Symptoms of shortness of breath, dizziness, and airway blockage can come on suddenly. If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing allergic angioedema and is having difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Angioedema can quickly worsen. Symptoms of shortness of breath, dizziness, and airway blockage can come on suddenly. If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing allergic angioedema and is having difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately.
Treating angioedema in a medical emergency typically requires:
To determine the underlying cause of the angioedema attack, you may be offered lab tests including:
Symptoms of Anaphylaxis
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Knowing you have an allergy or genetic condition isn’t always obvious. If you suspect angioedema, though, talk to a healthcare provider about prevention and treatment options. In cases of angioedema in the throat or mouth, seek immediate medical attention.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine.What is angioedema?American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Angioedema defined.Ghazi A, Grant JA.Hereditary angioedema: Epidemiology, management, and role of icatibant.Biologics: Targets & Therapy. 2013;7:103–113. doi:10.2147/BTT.S27566Cicardi M, Zanichelli A.Acquired angioedema.Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology: Official Journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2010;6(1):14. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-6-14Bernstein JA, Cremonesi P, Hoffmann TK, Hollingsworth J.Angioedema in the emergency department: a practical guide to differential diagnosis and management.International Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2017;10(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12245-017-0141-zTarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA.2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860Dermendzhiev S, Petrova A, Dermendzhiev T.Age characteristics and concomitant diseases in oatients with angioedema. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Feb 13;7(3):369-372. doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.121. PMID: 30834003; PMCID: PMC6390151.Kulkarni M, Travers JB, Rohan, C.High estrogen states in hereditary angioedema: A spectrum.Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology. 2021;60(3):396–403. doi:10.1007/s12016-021-08863-4MedlinePlus.Angioedema.Kim SJ, Brooks JC, Sheikh J, Kaplan MS, Goldberg BJ.Angioedema deaths in the United States, 1979-2010.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. 2014;113(6):630–634. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.09.003Merck Manuals.Angioedema.Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema. JAMA. 2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine.What is angioedema?American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Angioedema defined.Ghazi A, Grant JA.Hereditary angioedema: Epidemiology, management, and role of icatibant.Biologics: Targets & Therapy. 2013;7:103–113. doi:10.2147/BTT.S27566Cicardi M, Zanichelli A.Acquired angioedema.Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology: Official Journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2010;6(1):14. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-6-14Bernstein JA, Cremonesi P, Hoffmann TK, Hollingsworth J.Angioedema in the emergency department: a practical guide to differential diagnosis and management.International Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2017;10(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12245-017-0141-zTarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA.2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860Dermendzhiev S, Petrova A, Dermendzhiev T.Age characteristics and concomitant diseases in oatients with angioedema. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Feb 13;7(3):369-372. doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.121. PMID: 30834003; PMCID: PMC6390151.Kulkarni M, Travers JB, Rohan, C.High estrogen states in hereditary angioedema: A spectrum.Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology. 2021;60(3):396–403. doi:10.1007/s12016-021-08863-4MedlinePlus.Angioedema.Kim SJ, Brooks JC, Sheikh J, Kaplan MS, Goldberg BJ.Angioedema deaths in the United States, 1979-2010.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. 2014;113(6):630–634. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.09.003Merck Manuals.Angioedema.Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema. JAMA. 2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Penn Medicine.What is angioedema?American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Angioedema defined.Ghazi A, Grant JA.Hereditary angioedema: Epidemiology, management, and role of icatibant.Biologics: Targets & Therapy. 2013;7:103–113. doi:10.2147/BTT.S27566Cicardi M, Zanichelli A.Acquired angioedema.Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology: Official Journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2010;6(1):14. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-6-14Bernstein JA, Cremonesi P, Hoffmann TK, Hollingsworth J.Angioedema in the emergency department: a practical guide to differential diagnosis and management.International Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2017;10(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12245-017-0141-zTarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA.2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860Dermendzhiev S, Petrova A, Dermendzhiev T.Age characteristics and concomitant diseases in oatients with angioedema. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Feb 13;7(3):369-372. doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.121. PMID: 30834003; PMCID: PMC6390151.Kulkarni M, Travers JB, Rohan, C.High estrogen states in hereditary angioedema: A spectrum.Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology. 2021;60(3):396–403. doi:10.1007/s12016-021-08863-4MedlinePlus.Angioedema.Kim SJ, Brooks JC, Sheikh J, Kaplan MS, Goldberg BJ.Angioedema deaths in the United States, 1979-2010.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. 2014;113(6):630–634. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.09.003Merck Manuals.Angioedema.Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema. JAMA. 2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860
Penn Medicine.What is angioedema?
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Angioedema defined.
Ghazi A, Grant JA.Hereditary angioedema: Epidemiology, management, and role of icatibant.Biologics: Targets & Therapy. 2013;7:103–113. doi:10.2147/BTT.S27566
Cicardi M, Zanichelli A.Acquired angioedema.Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology: Official Journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2010;6(1):14. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-6-14
Bernstein JA, Cremonesi P, Hoffmann TK, Hollingsworth J.Angioedema in the emergency department: a practical guide to differential diagnosis and management.International Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2017;10(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12245-017-0141-z
Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA.2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860
Dermendzhiev S, Petrova A, Dermendzhiev T.Age characteristics and concomitant diseases in oatients with angioedema. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Feb 13;7(3):369-372. doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.121. PMID: 30834003; PMCID: PMC6390151.
Kulkarni M, Travers JB, Rohan, C.High estrogen states in hereditary angioedema: A spectrum.Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology. 2021;60(3):396–403. doi:10.1007/s12016-021-08863-4
MedlinePlus.Angioedema.
Kim SJ, Brooks JC, Sheikh J, Kaplan MS, Goldberg BJ.Angioedema deaths in the United States, 1979-2010.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. 2014;113(6):630–634. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.09.003
Merck Manuals.Angioedema.
Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema. JAMA. 2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
