Vascular endothelial growth factor is involved in angioedema associated with eosinophilia

Angioedema associated with eosinophilia is a disorder characterized by angioedema and eosinophilia. However, the pathogenesis of this disorder has not been fully understood. We experienced 4 patients with angioedema associated with eosinophilia. All patients were young, 3 were female and 1 was male. All patients revealed edema of the limbs and eosinophilia. The symptom was rapidly improved after the initiation of low or medium dose of prednisolone. We evaluated the serum concentration of interleukin 5 (IL-5) and the plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 1 patient. Both cytokines were markedly elevated before the treatment and decreased after the treatment. Angioedema associated with eosinophilia is not so rare, and IL-5 and VEGF are involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.