XXVI 
ANGIONEUROTIC EDEMA: A PLURIGLANDU- 
LAR HYPERSECRETORY SYNDROME 
By D. M. GREEN, M.D., Los Angeles, Calif. 
Angioneurotic edema, usually classed with the dis- 
eases of the nervous system, is, according to Osler’s 
definition,: ‘an affection characterized by the occur- 
rence of local edematous swellings more or less limited 
in extent, and of transient duration.” Quincke? re- 
gards it as a vasomotor neurosis, under the influence 
of which the permeability of the vessels is suddenly 
increased. Hare*® subscribes to this view in recom- 
mending for treatment the use of calcium chloride 
and magnesium carbonate “to increase blood coag- 
ulability” and ‘‘to prevent attacks—by an influence on 
the blood plasma.” Schalek* classes angioneurotic 
edema as a form of urticaria, and mentions urticaria 
hemorrhagica, urticaria tuberosa (giant wheals), and 
urticaria pigmentosa as unusual forms of the same 
disease; he also concludes that the lesions are “due 
to a spasmodic contraction of the blood-vessels under 
the influence of the vasomotor nerves.” Osler! recom- 
mends the vasodilator nitroglycerine in the treatment. 
Bandler® observes a common definite relationship be- 
tween menstruation, angioneurotic edema and urti- 
caria, and believes the latter two may be in the nature 
of anaphylactic phenomena. Several investigators re- 
cently have pointed out the close analogy existing be- 
tween anaphylaxis and hyperthyroidism, and have re- 
Dales 
