"Surgical" abdomen in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a case of acquired angioedema. uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • INTRODUCTION: Acquired angioedema (AAE), an acquired deficiency of C1esterase inhibitor, is a medically treatable condition which can cause severe abdominal pain mimicking an acute surgical abdomen. This disorder is strongly associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other indolent lymphoplasmacytic disorders. DISCUSSION: We describe a patient with known CLL who developed incapacitating, recurrent severe abdominal pains, culminating in partial bowel resection. Signs, symptoms, laboratory and pathologic findings demonstrated AAE. CONCLUSION: Wider appreciation of the possibility of AAE, particularly in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, could lead to preventive therapy and spare unnecessary surgery. This is more important now that more effective medical therapies are available.

publication date

  • October 15, 2011

Research

keywords

  • Angioedema
  • Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC3220812

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 81355148606

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s11605-011-1718-0

PubMed ID

  • 21997434

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 15

issue

  • 12