Hereditary angioedema: three cases report, members of the same family

J Oral Maxillofac Res. 2010 Apr 1;1(1):e9. doi: 10.5037/jomr.2010.1109. eCollection 2010.

Abstract

Background: This current clinical case report highlights three cases of Hereditary angioedema (HAE) patients who are all members of the same family (father and his two daughters). The father has C1-INH deficiency, while his daughters have low C1-INH levels: the first possesses only 10% function and the second has low C1-INH level with 0% function. Of note, the second daughter was discovered to have HAE at the age of 2, thus making her the youngest known HAE case report in the English literature.

Methods: Assess the efficacy of administration of C1-INH before dental operation as regards the prevention of HAE episode, when total or partial C1-INH deficiency exist.

Results: Acute angioedema leading to laryngeal oedema is a possibly fatal complication for HAE patients undergoing dental procedures. Use of both short-term and long-term HAE prophylaxis prior to dental operations might be life saving for those patients.

Conclusions: Prevention and early recognition of potential laryngeal oedema that can occur as a complication of dental procedures may be lifesaving for HAE patients.

Keywords: hereditary angioedema; laryngeal edema; operative dentistry; oral surgical procedure; surgical diagnostic technique; tooth extraction..