HEREDITARY ANGIOEDEMA - AN INFREQUENT CAUSE OF ABDOMINAL-PAIN WITH ASCITES

Patients with hereditary angioedema have episodes of local swelling, u sually affecting the face, extremities, upper airway, and gastrointest inal tract, Only infrequently does it cause recurrent abdominal pain ( with or without ascites); however, because it has potentially life-thr eatening complications, an early diagnosis is important, We describe a case of type I hereditary angioedema (a quantitative deficit of C1 in hibitor), the sole initial symptom of which was severe recurrent and s elf-limited abdominal pain, accompanied by ascites during these episod es, During a 4-yr period of treatment with danazol, the patient was vi rtually asymptomatic, despite levels of C4 and C1 inhibitor that remai ned below normal limits, and there have been no major side effects tha t could be attributed to treatment with androgens.