ACE-inhibitor use can exacerbate angioedema
Investigators from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, recently found a link between continued use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and recurrent angioedema. They found that not only were patients who continued to use ACE inhibitors 10 times more likely to have recurrent incidents than those who discontinued use of the drug, but the episodes were associated with serious morbidity, requiring hospitalization and intubation in some cases. The lead author of the study points out that often, "physicians attribute angioedema to a number of causes not related to ACE inhibitor use, even after multiple recurrences."1
Reference1. Brown NJ, Snowden M, Griffin MR. Recurrent angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-associated angioedema. JAMA 1997; 278:232-233.
Heidi LeGates, MSN, RN, Clinical Outcomes Specialist, Milford (DE) Memorial Hospital. Telephone: (302) 424-5596.
Barbara Peterson, RN, MSN, EDD, Director; Cathy Schenker, RN, BSN, Manager; Milford (DE) Memorial Hospital Home Health Services. Telephone: (302) 424-5040.
Lisa Mischke, RN, MSN, Inpatient Congestive Heart Failure Coordinator, Evanston (IL) Hospital. Telephone: (847) 570-2913.
George Silberman, Health Policy Staff, American College of Cardiology, Bethesda, MD. Telephone: (800) 435-9203.
David R. Jacobs Jr., MD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Telephone: (612) 624-4196.
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