[Facial angioedema following pharmacotherapy with an ACE inhibitor].

A 56-year-old women suddenly had a swelling on her right cheek and on the right side of her upper lip, for which she decided to first visit her family physician and subsequently her family dentist. During the past two years, she was treated for an ovarian carcinoma by an oncologist. Recently, she was using the antihypertensive ACE inhibitor enalapril, prescribed by her family physician. Consultation between her family dentist, family physician and oncologist led to the diagnosis angioedema as an adverse effect of enalapril. The family physician replaced enalapril by the angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan. Subsequently, the swelling disappeared within two days. This angioedema type occurs most frequently in the head and neck area. Oropharyngeal, tongue and laryngeal oedema are very dangerous because they may cause airway obstruction. Today, a live-threatening or fatal condition is mostly prevented as a result of better vigilance of dentists and physicians. Nevertheless, such a condition will still occur occasionally.