Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor-Induced Angioedema of the Small Bowel: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

Background: Angioedema of the tongue, oral mucosa, and pharynx is a highly visible and easily diagnoseable side effect of Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI). Angioedema of the small bowel is a rarer, and underrecognized, adverse event that may present as a diagnostic challenge due to its nonspecific symptoms and lack of visibility, and because of a general lack of awareness of it among physicians. Failure to consider ACEI-induced angioedema of the small bowel in differential diagnoses may result in unnecessary interventions and delay of treatment.