Recurrent angioedema and urticaria.

The case reported here illustrates the life-threatening aspects of angioedema and the need to thoroughly investigate the possible causes of this clinical finding. As discussed, the causes of angioedema are numerous. Commonly implicated in drug-induced angioedema are antihypertensive ACE inhibitor drugs, as was originally thought with this patient. Because of her skin lesions and macrocytic anemia, further studies were done. These studies led to a diagnosis of hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome, an uncommon to rare form of acquired angioedema, urticarial vasculitis, arthritis, and obstructive airway disease associated with the production of autoantibodies to C1q. It is an autoimmune disorder related to but separate from SLE.