L’angiœdème laryngé induit par les médicaments interférant avec le métabolisme de la bradykinine

Angioedema Triggered by Medication Blocking the Renin/Angiotensin System: Retrospective Study Using the French National Pharmacovigilance Database

INTRODUCTION

Bradykinin-mediated angioedema (AE) is a rare side effect of some medications, including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). In France, side-effects to treatments are reported to the national pharmacovigilance database.

METHODS

The national MedDRA database was searched using the term "angioedema". Patients were included if they met the clinical criteria corresponding to bradykinin-mediated AE, if their C1-inhibitor levels were normal, and if they were treated with an ACEi or an ARB.

RESULTS

7998 cases of AE were reported between 1994 and 2013. Among these, 112 met the criteria for bradykinin-mediated AE with normal C1-inhibitor levels. On the 112 drug-AE, patients were treated with an ARB in 21% of cases (24 patients), or an ACEi in 77% of cases (88 patients), in combination with another treatment in 17 cases (mTORi for 3 patients, iDPP-4 for 1 patient, hormonal treatment for 7 patients). ENT involvement was reported in 90% of cases (tongue: 48.2%, larynx: 23.2%). The median duration of treatment before the first attack was 720 days, and the mean duration of attacks was 36.6 h. Forty-one percent (19/46) of patients relapsed after discontinuing treatment.

CONCLUSION

Angioedema triggered by medication blocking the renin/angiotensin system is rare but potentially severe, with a high risk of recurrence despite cessation of the causative drug.

[Management of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-related angioedema: recommendations from the French National Center for Angioedema]

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-related angioedema (AE) may be fatal in the absence of specific treatment. No consensus for this side effect currently exists. Also, the French national reference centre for angioedema (CREAK) decided to establish recommendations, developed by an expert group and proposed at a national meeting. A scientific committee conducted a comprehensive literature review and worked out with proposals. These proposals were submitted to a vote to the expert panel of CREAK at a national meeting. Proposals that had received the majority were retained. Diagnosis of ACE inhibitor-related AE is based on clinical events. Regarding the severity of the disease, this diagnosis has to be put forward in any patient currently treated with or who has been treated with ACE inhibitors in the previous 6 months. The diagnosis is important because AE does not respond to usual treatment of histamine-induced AE (antihistamines, corticosteroids, and epinephrine), but only to specific treatment of bradykinin-induced AE, as antagonists of bradykinin or concentrates of C1 inhibitor. The subsequent use of ACE is strictly contra-indicated. A report to pharmacovigilance centres of every case is essential. These recommendations should improve the standardization of the management of ACE inhibitor-related AE.