Case Report

Cyclosporine A in the treatment of chronic idiopathic angioedema: a case report

  • Osman Şener
  • Erol Bolu
  • Sedat Akyol

Received Date: 17.03.2005 Accepted Date: 16.06.2005 Gulhane Med J 2005;47(3):228-230

A 30-year-old male patient who had had a history of severe angioedema episodes for 13 years was hospitalized because of weakness, dizziness, drowsiness and periorbital angioedema. He was taking prednisolone 15 mg/day, regularly. Based on his clinical examination and laboratory studies, we were not able to find any pathologic condition, which might cause angioedema attacks. An ACTH stimulation test revealed an adrenal suppression due to long term corticosteroid use. His angioedema attacks could not be controlled with classical therapeutic approaches, and he was given cyclosporine A 300 mg/day as an alternative drug. All the medications were withdrawn except for replacement dose prednisolone (7.5 mg/day). At the beginning, his angioedema disappeared, but the lesions recurred after six weeks parallel to dose tapering. The angioedema could not be controlled even though the cyclosporine A dose was increased to 300 mg/day.

Keywords: Chronic urticaria angioedema, autoimmunity, cyclosporine A