This study compared the effect of placebo versus the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist icatibant on symptoms of ACE inhibitor–associated angioedema in a mixed race population of patients. The study does not support the clinical efficacy of B2 receptor blockade in this form of angioedema.

The findings contrast those of Bas et al, who reported that administration of icatibant reduced the duration of symptoms of ACE inhibitor–associated angioedema in Europeans of Caucasian descent.

The present study differs from that study in several important aspects.

Bas et al used active comparator treatment and it is not possible to exclude the interpretation that treatment worsens ACE inhibitor–associated angioedema.

In contrast, the current study was placebo-controlled and administration of other therapies was considered a secondary outcome.

In the earlier study, all of the patients were white and 62% were male.

Patients enrolled in the present study were more representative of previously published risk factors for ACE inhibitor–induced angioedema in that the majority or patients were of African descent and female.

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