FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS?
On this page you can find the answers to most of your HAE related questions, provided as a FAQ (frequently asked questions). If your question is not answered please fill in the box on the right hand side and send us your question.
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An episode of HAE involves an acute swelling of the skin or mucous membranes, primarily affecting the limbs, face and neck as well as the buttocks and genitalia. Although this swelling of the skin is almost never associated with itching, it causes a feeling of tension, the severity of which ranges from unpleasant to painful. The facial swelling can be disfiguring. Swelling can also occur in the wall of the intestine. This swelling is associated with colicky pain and can cause diarrhea, vomiting and circulatory disorders. In extreme cases, even intestinal paralysis and intestinal obstruction are possible.
The most feared complication of HAE is swelling in the larynx (laryngeal edema) or upper respiratory tract, which can cause death by suffocation if left untreated.
The frequency, duration and severity of attacks vary considerably. Approximately 22 percent of patients report a frequency of greater than one attack per month; 40 percent of patients experience on average 6 to 11 attacks per year; and the remaining 22 percent are infrequently symptomatic.
In most cases, the symptoms of HAE are transient, progressing over 12 to 36 hours, and then subsiding gradually over the next two to five days. However, some patients may experience attacks that last over a week. Although HAE episodes are self-limiting, the unpredictable occurrence of attacks places considerable strain on patients, often restricting their ability to lead normal lives. Untreated, patients with HAE lose up to 100 to 150 work days per year and have morbidity approaching 50 percent.
If an episode of HAE involves laryngeal attacks this may lead to airway obstruction and have the potential to cause death by asphyxiation. Amongst HAE patients suffering from edema of the larynx, the estimated mortality rate of untreated attacks is as high as 40 percent if the attack is not treated adequately. If the mucous membranes in the larynx start to swell, immediate medical treatment is required. It may be necessary to intubate the patient or make an emergency incision in the windpipe (tracheotomy) if appropriate treatment is not available.
HAE is caused by a genetic defect on chromosome 11, which leads to a deficiency of the protein C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). This protein is part of a system known as the complement system, which is involved in the complex interaction leading to immune and inflammatory reactions in the body. Among other things, C1-INH controls the release of the tissue hormone bradykinin. If either C1-INH concentration or activity is decreased, bradykinin concentrations may increase and an episode of swelling can occur.
There are two types of HAE. Type I is the most common (approx. 80-85 percent of cases) and involves a C1-INH deficiency resulting from insufficient production of the enzyme. Type II affects approx. 15 percent of patients and involves normal or even elevated C1-INH concentrations but reduced C1-INH activity (function).
Recently, a rare third form of the disease has been discovered. Unlike the other two subtypes of HAE, this subtype is not associated with a C1-INH deficiency. It affects mostly women and is reported to be associated with a mutation of factor XII.
Episodes of HAE often occur without an obvious trigger. However, in some cases, a cause can be identified. For instance, infections, minor injuries and mechanical stimuli such as pressure can induce an attack. Dental procedures or surgery to remove the tonsils are particularly critical, as they can cause swelling in the larynx. Emotional and mental stress can also trigger an attack.
Hormonal factors are another known cause of HAE attacks. For example, the frequency of episodes can be higher in women taking products containing estrogen (the “pill”), products for menopausal complaints or who have their menstruation.
A class of blood pressure lowering drugs known as ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors are contraindicated in HAE patients as they have also been shown to trigger HAE attacks in some patients. HAE patients should, therefore, avoid taking this type of medication.
The larynx can swell both spontaneously and after an injury to the oral mucosa, e.g. during dental treatment. The first signs will be difficulty swallowing, voice changes and hoarseness.
Increasing swelling in the larynx then leads to breathlessness, which can cause suffocation in extreme cases. If a patient experiences these symptoms, he or she should seek medical help immediately.
If a family history is already known to include cases of HAE, it is very reasonable to suspect HAE the first time it occurs in another family member.
Failure to respond to drugs administered for allergic reactions, such as antihistamines, corticosteroids and adrenaline, is also used to distinguish HAE from allergic edema.
However, the diagnosis of HAE is confirmed by special blood tests in which the concentration and activity of C1-INH and the concentrations of other proteins in the complement system are measured. The concentration and/or activity of C1-INH are reduced in patients with HAE.
Episodes of HAE can increase or decrease during pregnancy, as can the severity of the edema. Your doctor will follow you closely during this time and discuss appropriate treatment with you.
HAE is a rare and relatively unknown disease. In addition, the symptoms of an episode of HAE are similar to those of much more common diseases, e.g. an allergy or appendicitis. This makes it difficult to diagnose HAE correctly.
HAE can also be confused with other forms of angioedema, e.g. allergic angioedema. However, the drugs used to treat this form of angioedema, such as cortisone and antihistamines, have no effect on the symptoms of HAE.
Diagnosing HAE is particularly difficult if the patient suffers predominantly from gastrointestinal attacks. If HAE is suspected, the diagnosis can be confirmed quickly by a blood test.
There are three established treatment options for HAE: acute treatment, long-term prophylaxis and short-term prophylaxis.
The aim of acute treatment is to stop the progression of the edema and to resolve the symptoms. This applies particularly to episodes in the larynx, which can cause death if left untreated.
The recommended options for acute treatment vary from country to country due to the fact that drugs for specific treatment are not licensed in all countries. In these cases, acute treatment may be limited to more unspecific drugs such as tranexamic acid or even just pain killers.
In countries where it is available, Icatibant or C1-INH concentrate can be used for the treatment of acute attacks. Icatibant must be administered by subcutaneous injection by a healthcare professional, C1-INH concentrate must be administered intravenously.
Short-term prophylaxis is usually performed before surgical procedures or dental treatment.
In countries in which C1-INH concentrate is available, it is administered 1-1½ hours before the procedure as an intravenous infusion. In all other European countries, high-dose treatment with androgens is administered for five to seven days beforehand.
The defect on chromosome 11 that is responsible for HAE is equally common in men and women and can be passed on by both sexes. As HAE is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease, there is a 50 percent risk of a child inheriting the disease from the affected parent. Male and female offspring are at equal risk of inheriting HAE.
