A case report of nonepisodic angioedema with eosinophilia in a Korean patient and a review of the Korean literature

Abstract

Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia (EAE) is characterized by recurrent angioedema, peripheral eosinophilia, elevated serum IgM, fever, weight gain, and a benign course lacking any internal organ involvement. Dozens of cases of the nonepisodic variant (NEAE), which is limited to a single attack, have been reported in Japan. These NEAE cases normally have been less severe than the episodic type. In this paper, we describe the case of a Korean patient whose clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with NEAE, and review five other cases of EAE and NEAE reported in the Korean literature. The Korean NEAE cases outlined in this paper demonstrate that, as in Japan, NEAE is not uncommon in Korea, and also suggest that this disease exhibits a cultural predilection for Asian populations.