[Angio-oedema and urticaria as side effects of frequently used drugs].

Angio-oedema and urticaria can be symptoms of both allergic (IgE-mediated) and non-allergic drug hypersensitivity reactions. Non-allergic drug reactions, that may have a similar clinical presentation as allergic drug reactions, are not caused by an IgE-mediated immune mechanism. Because of unfamiliarity with non-allergic drug reactions and the unclear time course between drug use and reactions, the relationship with the responsible drug is often not recognized, leading to unnecessary patient risks. In the present article three patients with angio-oedema and urticaria as side effects of frequently used drugs (ACE-inhibitors, NSAIDs and betalactams) are presented and discussed. Patient A was a 69-year-old man with ACE-inhibitor induced angio-oedema. Patient B was a 40-year-old woman with urticaria and angio-oedema after ingestion of a NSAID caused by a non-allergic drug reaction. Patient C was a 54-year-old woman who developed an anaphylactic shock because of a type I allergy to betalactams.