Hereditary angioedema: an unusual case in an African-American woman.

Hereditary angioedema is a rare disorder characterized by a localized subepithelial edema and swelling of the gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract. The disorder is estimated to occur in 1 in 50,000 to 150,000 individuals. However, the prevalence of the disorder among the African-American population is uncertain. This is a case report of hereditary angioedema occurring in an African-American woman whose symptoms persisted for more than a decade prior to diagnosis.