Angio Edema
Question: My son has recently been diagnosed with hereditary angio edema. My husband and father in law also have the disease and have been controlled over the past 7 or 8 years with stanazol (winstrol). My husband is on a very low dosage and takes blood tests several times a year to monitor any potential adverse effects of the drug. My son is only 16 years old and suffered a very painful attack recently. Can he take stanazol or is he too young? Could it have an effect on growth and hormone production? We are looking for something so he won't have to suffer with another attack again.

Answer: Although stanazol will decrease the frequency and severity of this disease we really don't know the mechanism. Clearly stanazol can elevate blood counts and other detrimental effects of steroids. In general, we avoid any steroids in children until their growth plates are closed. I am not aware of specific contraindications for this drug. However, most physicians will avoid this drug until he is 20 or so. The exception will be if the attacks are life threatening. I would have your physician contact a pediatric endocrinologist for recommendations.

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