[Abdominal sonography in hereditary angioneurotic edema. A contribution to the early diagnosis of a disease of interdisciplinary significance].

Hereditary angioneurotic oedema is a rare complement-related disorder (C1-esterase-inhibitor deficiency) characterised by recurrent episodic swelling of the limbs, face, gastrointestinal tract, or airways. The mortality rate of the unrecognised disorder is 30 per cent, mainly due to airway obstruction. Two female patients (aged 29 and 61 years) with proven disease were studied by ultrasonography while they suffered from acute abdominal pain: Ultrasound imaging showed a diffuse oedematous but compressible gut wall with reduced bowel motility, distended bowel loops with intraluminal fluid accumulation and free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The ultrasonographic feature was different from that of other gastrointestinal diseases. In combination with the patient's history, the clinical pattern and the normal routine laboratory findings, abdominal ultrasonography is a suitable tool for early diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening disorder.