A case of angioedema induced by angiotensin II receptor blockers, suggesting the involvement of figs

Abstract

An 88-year-old woman with a past history of hypertension presented with rapid swelling of the tongue. She had been taking angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) for 16 years. After ingesting some figs, she began to feel discomfort in her mouth, and her tongue rapidly swelled. The edema of her tongue did not improve after consulting a nearby physician and resting at home; hence, she was referred to our emergency department. The patient’s symptoms did not respond to intravenous administration of antihistamines and corticosteroids; therefore, she was intubated and placed on a ventilator to avoid possible airway obstruction. The patient was extubated on day 5 and discharged on day 13. This case was considered to be drug-induced angioedema caused by ARBs, which has been increasingly reported in recent years, and the involvement of oral allergy syndrome caused by figs was suggested as a triggering factor for disease onset following long-term oral administration.