Epsilon Aminocaproic Acid Therapy of Hereditary Angioneurotic Edema

Abstract

Five patients with hereditary angioneurotic edema were treated with a sequence of courses of epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) or placebo in a double-blind study. Attacks of edema were significantly less frequent during administration of EACA in four patients. The principal adverse side effects of EACA – muscle pain and weakness, accompanied by elevations in the serum enzymes creatine phosphokinase and aldolase – were usually observed when the dose of drug exceeded 20 g per day, but disappeared when the drug was discontinued or the dosage was lowered.