Life-threatening laryngeal oedema in a pregnant woman with hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary angioedema is an unusual condition that has been associated with a high mortality rate during acute attacks. The disease is felt to have a benign course in pregnancy, but some reports indicate a worsening of attacks in pregnant women. A case of a pregnant woman with known hereditary angioedema presenting with lifethreatening laryngeal oedema is reported, and is followed by a discussion of the disease, its links with sex hormones and a review of the literature.