Drug-induced Angioedema: A Rare Side Effect of Rosuvastatin

Hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are first-line medication for lowering serum cholesterol levels in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Angioedema is the swelling of mucosa and submucosal tissue. There are no published cases of drug-induced angioedema involving rosuvastatin. We report a case of a 45-year-old female who presented with episodes of self-resolving edema of face, lips, and tongue after being on rosuvastatin. The patient denied any rash during these episodes and mentioned that self-medication with diphenhydramine did not relieve her symptoms. The patient was hemodynamically stable. The complement component 4 (C4), C1 esterase inhibitor, and complement component 1q (C1q) binding assay were within normal range. Therefore, the diagnosis of hereditary angioedema was effectively ruled out. The temporal relation between rosuvastatin and the development of angioedema and prompt resolution of symptoms after the drug discontinued suggest that rosuvastatin was the most probable culprit in the development of angioedema in our patient.