Case report reveals improvement in acquired angioedema through chemotherapy in a 68-year-old woman.
Acquired angioedema (AAE-C1INH) is a rare, potentially life-threatening disorder resulting from acquired C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, often secondary to lymphoproliferative diseases such as splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL). We report on a 68-year-old woman presenting with facial and tongue swelling, gastrointestinal symptoms, and splenomegaly. Laboratory work-up revealed low C1 esterase inhibitor and C1q complement levels, consistent with AAE-C1INH. Imaging showed marked splenomegaly with increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake; bone marrow biopsy confirmed SMZL. Treatment with rituximab and bendamustine chemotherapy led to clinical improvement, normalization of complement levels, and cessation of angioedema episodes.
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Dhulipalla et al. (2026) studied this question.
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