Angioedema

Angioedema (pronounced an-jee-oh-i-dee-muh)

In pathology, a swelling that occurs just beneath the surface of the skin or mucous membranes.

1888: The construct was angio- + edema.  Angio was from the Ancient Greek ἀγγεῖον (angeîon) (vessel, urn, pot), a word-forming element meaning "vessel of the body," now often "covered or enclosed by a seed or blood vessel," from a Latinized form of the Greek angeion (case, capsule, vessel of the body), diminutive of angos (vessel, jar, vat, vase) of unknown origin but perhaps a Mediterranean loan-word.  The spelling if used before a vowel is angi-.  Edema (excessive accumulation of serum in tissue spaces or a body cavity) dates from circa 1400 (also as idema (a swelling filled with phlegmatic humors) and is from the Ancient Greek οἴδημα (genitive oidēmatos)(oídēma) (a swelling tumor), from οἰδέω (oidéō) (I swell), oidos (tumor, swelling) & oidéin (to swell) from the primitive Indo-European oid (to swell), source also of the Latin aemidus (swelling), the Armenian aitumn (a swelling) & aytnum (to swell), the Old Norse eista (testicle) the Old High German eittar (pus) and the Old English attor (poison (which which makes the body swell)).  Famously it's the first element in Oedipus.  In historic English texts are the alternative forms oedema & œdema, both non-standard and archaic except in historic reference.

Angioedema: pathologic and induced

Manifesting particularly in younger females, frequently as an allergic reaction to foods or drugs, the condition was originally called angioneuroticedema when described in 1882 by German internist and surgeon Heinrich Quincke (1842–1922).  There had been earlier clinical discussions in the literature but until Quincke published his reports, the condition had never been named.  In 1888, the Canadian physician Sir William Osler (1849–1919), coined the term hereditary angio-neurotic edema after noting there may be some hereditary basis and the words angioneuroticedema and angioedema were soon in use.  The official (but now rarely used) alternative name is Quincke disease and in casual use there’s also giant hives, giant urticaria and periodic edema.

Angioedema is often seen in conjunction with hives (urticaria), a condition up to one in five people will develop at some time in their life and of these, a third will suffer angioedema as well.  Angioedema as an isolated condition, without hives, is much less common.  If the conditions occur together, the hives will itch and the angioedema will be itchy, hot or painful.  In isolation, angioedema will manifest either as itchy, hot and red swellings which are often large and uncomfortable or as skin-colored swellings which, while neither itchy nor burning, are often unresponsive to antihistamines.  In most patients, angioedema eventually disappears though it may reoccur following infection, when under stress or indeed with no obvious cause.  Although it tends to be a recurrent problem that reappears throughout life, angioedema is seldom caused by a serious underlying disease, nor does it cause serious illness or induce damage to internal organs.

Most commonly affected are the face, lips, tongue, throat and genital areas, the swelling lasting usually between one to three days although, in rare cases, there can be swelling of internal organs like the oesophagus, stomach or bowel which can trigger chest or stomach pains.  While itchy, tingling, or burning, often there are no symptoms other than the discomfort of the swelling.  Angioedema does not damage internal organs like kidneys, liver or lungs, the only danger being if the throat or the tongue swell severely, causing difficulties breathing and severe cases can demand the early use of medications such as adrenaline for anaphylaxis or icatibant for hereditary angioedema (HAE).  If the condition does not respond to these treatments, hospitalization may be required.

Ms Andrea Ivanova, before & after.

For specific purposes, it’s possible to induce localized instances of angioedema.  Ms Andrea Ivanova (b 1998), a student from the Bulgarian capital Sofia, has had over twenty injections of hyaluronic acid in her quest to have the world’s plumpest lips but, seeking additional fullness, indicated recently she intends to pursue another course of injections.  Ms Ivanova is also a collector of Barbie dolls, the aesthetic of which she admires, and these are said to provide the inspiration for some of the other body modifications and adjustments she's undertaken.  Like the lips, other bits remain a work-in-progress, Ms Ivanova documenting things on Instagram where she enjoys some 10,000 followers.