Recognizing, understanding, and treating angioedema in the emergency room

Angioedema, whether related to histamine release or excessive bradykinin, is a common reason for admission to the emergency department. This condition is a potentially serious and even fatal condition. Its diagnostic and therapeutic management can be difficult. This article details the practical management of angioedema in the emergency room, particularly its bradykinic form, as well as the modalities and objectives of the specialized allergology assessment, which is frequently indicated. Finally, this article gives a special look at hereditary angioedema, a rare disease justifying a specialized therapeutic management, which has recently been revolutionized by the advent of new and very promising molecules. Key Words Angioedema, histamine, bradykinin, hereditary angioedema, emergency, allergology