Health encyclopaedia

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Causes of Angioedema

Angioedema is caused by an abnormal reaction by the body’s immune (disease-fighting system). What triggers an attack, and how severe it is, differs from person to person.

In some people, attacks are triggered (set off) by allergies. An allergy is an over-reaction by the immune system, to a substance that is not usually harmful. Substances that can trigger angioedema include:

Over-the-counter and prescribed drugs such as aspirin and ACE-inhibitors,

• Foods such as shellfish and nuts,
• Pollen,
• Latex,
• Insect bites, and
• Scales of skin shed by an animal.

Angioedema can also be triggered by:

• Extreme heat or cold,
• Exercise,
• Stress or emotional upset, and
• Certain illnesses, especially those affecting the body’s immune system, such as leukaemia.

Inherited angioedema is caused by a deficiency (not having enough) of a protein called the C1 inhibiting factor. This deficiency interferes with the normal working of the body’s immune system and affects the blood vessels in various parts of the body (where the swellings occur).

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