Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
07:21
Subcutaneous Angiotensin II Infusion using Osmotic Pumps Induces Aortic Aneurysms in Mice
Published on: September 28, 2015
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-associated angioedema
James Brian Byrd1, Albert Adam, Nancy J Brown
1Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 560 Robinson Research Building, Nashville, TN 37232-6602, USA.
Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America
|November 7, 2006
Summary
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor users may experience angioedema, a swelling condition. This adverse event might stem from impaired breakdown of peptides like bradykinin, potentially involving non-ACE pathways.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Angioedema affects 0.1%–6% of patients using angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
- Incidence varies by demographics: higher in Black Americans, women, and smokers.
- The fluctuating nature of ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema complicates diagnosis but offers etiological insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential mechanisms underlying ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema.
- To explore the role of vasoactive peptides in angioedema pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical data and existing literature on ACE inhibitor side effects.
- Analysis of peptide degradation pathways related to ACE activity.
Main Results:
- ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema presents with swelling of the lips, face, and tongue.
- Risk factors include race, sex, and smoking status.
- Defective degradation of ACE substrates (e.g., bradykinin, substance P) may play a role.
Conclusions:
- ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema is a recognized adverse effect with variable incidence.
- Pathogenesis may involve impaired bradykinin and substance P degradation through non-ACE mechanisms.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise pathways involved.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a vital component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, is abundant in lung endothelial cells. ACE converts the inactive decapeptide, angiotensin I, into the active octapeptide, angiotensin II. This potent vasoconstrictor narrows blood vessels, increasing resistance to blood flow and elevating blood pressure. Angiotensin II also stimulates aldosterone production, encouraging kidney cells to reabsorb more sodium and water from urine, thereby increasing...
01:25Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an intricate physiological pathway involving numerous enzymes and hormones, including renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin I and II, and aldosterone. Imbalances within this system increase the production of angiotensin II and aldosterone. Increased angiotensin II levels promote vasoconstriction and blood pressure elevation. Concurrently, higher aldosterone levels stimulate sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys,...
01:30Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
In the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormone called angiotensin II plays a crucial role. It binds to the AT1 receptors in vascular smooth muscles coupled with Gq proteins. The activation of these receptors activates an enzyme called phospholipase C, which releases two molecules: inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. These molecules cause a chain reaction that leads to the phosphorylation of myosin light chains and promotes interaction between actin and myosin, leading to smooth...
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
01:18Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
Endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides critical in the human body's various physiological and pathological processes. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves counteracting the effects of these endothelins using a class of drugs known as endothelin receptor antagonists.
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE). Of...
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE). Of...
01:28Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview
Cardiac catheterization is an invasive diagnostic technique used to identify and evaluate structural and functional diseases of the heart and major blood vessels. This technique diagnoses congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and coronary spasms and assesses ventricular function. It helps guide treatment decisions, including the need for revascularization procedures like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and...