Introduction

Angioedema refers to swelling that occurs in the tissue just below the surface of the skin, most often around the lips and eyes. It is similar to hives, but hives involve itchy red welts on the surface of your skin, whereas angioedema is a deeper swelling. Both hives and angioedema are usually caused by an allergic reaction, to either a food or medication. In rare cases, it may be a sign of an underlying condition such as leukemia or Hodgkin's disease. In an allergic reaction, the body produces histamine, which causes blood vessels to swell. There are two basic types of angioedema:

• Hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare condition that is genetic
• Acquired angioedema (AAE)

Angioedema can take anywhere from minutes to hours to develop. It may affect an area on one side of the body but not on the other. In most cases, angioedema is mild. Severe angioedema can cause the throat or tongue to swell, cutting off the airway, and it can be life threatening.

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