ANGIOEDEMA OF THE LIPS AND TONGUE AFTER PERINDOPRIL TREATMENT: A CASE REPORT

Background: Angioedema is potentially life-threatening clinical syndrome of sudden and transient onset. It can be hereditary or acquired. Angioedema secondary to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs is a known adverse reaction involving bradykinin and does not respond to conventional treatments. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs are frequently prescribed for the treatment of arterial hypertension. We report the first case of angioedema in our institution and country. Case presentation: An 84-year-old Colombian man attended the emergency department for diffuse abdominal pain, with subsequent appearance of lip edema and sensation of a foreign body in the throat. He had no history of allergies to medications, foods, or previous similar episodes. History of arterial hypertension, for which he had been prescribed perindopril 5 mg every 12 hours, four days before the emergency consultation. Trade name, Coversyl A, contains perindopril arginate 5 mg corresponding to Perindopril 3.395 mg. Physical examination with edema of the lips and tongue. The tests performed were normal. A diagnosis of angioedema induced by perindopril was made, this medication was withdrawn. The patient was hospitalized for two days and was treated with corticosteroids and tranexamic acid with complete recovery and improvement. Conclusión: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are drugs increasingly used in daily clinical practice, so adverse reactions such as angioedema are becoming more common in emergency medical services.