Angioedema in a patient with C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency

Angioedema is characterized by recurrent, circumscribed, solitary or multiple subcutaneous and mucosal swelling, involving the extremities, face, larynx, bowel wall. Angioedema is due to hereditary or acquired varieties of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1INH) deficiency.A case of atypical acquired angioedema in a 49-year old man, responding favourably to cinnarizine and alcohol abstinence, is presented in this article. Cinnarizine was prescribed due to presumed alcoholic liver disease. The clinical significant amelioration was not associated with concomitant good laboratory result, which is a relatively common occurrence.