Treatment of recurrent and refractory Quincke's disease with topical antihistamines and uvulectomy

Abstract

Quincke's disease (QD) is a rare disease which manifests as idiopathic isolated uvular edema, distinguishing it from other forms of angioedema. We present a case of recurrent QD, refractory to conventional medical management. Olopatadine spray directly to the uvula was effective for prodromal treatment in reducing episode frequency and severity. Ultimately, uvulectomy provided definitive resolution. Uvulectomy is a safe and effective method for recurrent and refractory QD, and topical uvular olopatadine can be considered in less severe cases. This is the first report in the literature describing the use of antihistamine spray directly to the uvula for uvular edema, and it is also the first report in the literature with long-term follow-up after uvulectomy for QD.

Keywords

• Quincke's disease
• Quincke's edema
• Angioedema
• Uvula
• Uvulectomy