icatibant and Erythema

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of icatibant self-administration in 15 patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) types I or III, for 55 acute attacks (mostly severe or very severe). Icatibant self-administration was generally effective: first symptom improvement occurred in 5 min-2 h (HAE type I; n = 17) and 8 min-1 h (HAE type III; n = 9) for abdominal attacks and 5-30 min (HAE type I; n = 4) and 10 min-12 h (HAE type III; n = 6) for laryngeal attacks. Complete symptom resolution occurred in 15 min-19 h (HAE type I; n = 8) and 15 min-48 h (HAE type III; n = 9) for abdominal attacks and 5-48 h (HAE type I; n = 3) and 8-48 h (HAE type III; n = 5) for laryngeal attacks. No patient required emergency hospitalization. The only adverse events were mild, spontaneously resolving injection site reactions. Patients reported that carrying icatibant with them gave them greater confidence in managing their condition.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Angioedemas, Hereditary; Bradykinin; Bradykinin Receptor Antagonists; Disease Progression; Erythema; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Self Administration; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult

Hereditary angio-oedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disease caused by deficiency of complement C1 inhibitor. It is characterised by recurrent episodes of subcutaneous or submucosal oedema typically involving the extremities, bowel, face or larynx. Within the latest years it has become evident that the active mediator of HAE attacks is an increased level of bradykinin and various new treatment modalities have been developed. The aim of this paper is to give an update from the Danish HAE Comprehensive Care Centre on current treatment possibilities and address some of the challenges when diagnosing HAE.

Topics: Adult; Angioedemas, Hereditary; Bradykinin; Bradykinin B2 Receptor Antagonists; Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein; Complement Inactivating Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Erythema; Female; Humans; Kallikreins; Laryngeal Edema; Peptides; Receptor, Bradykinin B2; Recombinant Proteins

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Angioedema; Bradykinin; Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein; Erythema; Hereditary Angioedema Types I and II; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome