Many faces of angioedema: focus on the diagnosis and management of abdominal manifestations of hereditary angioedema

Insights into the FDA 2018 New Drug Approvals

OBJECTIVE

The Center of Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) in the food and drug administration (FDA) approves new drugs every year. This review discusses the novel drugs of the FDA in 2018, with emphasis on the breakthrough drugs, the milestones in the approved list, and drugs with the highest expected sales in 2024.

METHODS

The following scientific search engines were surveyed for the clinical trials of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2018: Pubmed, Springer link, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Wiley online library, Taylor and Francis, and Google Scholar. The total forecast sales were compared based on information from the Cortellis database, EvaluatePharma, and Nature Biobusiness Briefs.

RESULTS

The 2018 year was full of good news for the drug market in the USA, with 59 new drug approvals by the FDA, which is the highest number of approvals in the last twenty years. The oncology and the antimicrobial drugs represent almost 50% of the new list, which gives hope to cancer patients and subjects with infectious diseases. In the 2018 FDA list, a number of drugs are expected to exceed 1$ billion dollars of sales by 2024.

CONCLUSION

The new drugs approved by the FDA in 2018 have been reviewed. This year showed the highest number of new drug approvals in the last two decades. Among the 59 drugs approved in 2018, 14 drugs are considered breakthroughs, which revive hope for many poorly managed diseases. The list also contains 19 drugs that are first in class and 43 that were given priority reviews.

Idiopathic Intestinal Angioedema: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Angioedema is an allergic reaction that usually involves the face and pharynx. Intestinal angioedema is a rare subtype that is typically linked to the use of angiotensin-converting enzymes inhibitors (ACEIs). Intestinal angioedema is challenging to diagnose, as it can mimic gastroenteritis or other inflammatory bowel conditions. Herein, we present a 34-year-old female who presented with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain. She underwent extensive workup for her abdominal pain and rash, and all was unrevealing except for high Immunoglobulin E (Ig E). Multiple imaging came back negative for any pathology. The allergy and immunology team evaluated the patient, and they believed her symptoms are likely caused by isolated intestinal angioedema with a histamine-related rash. She was started on high doses of antihistamines; her symptoms partially improved. Subsequently, she was started on a trial of omalizumab, which resulted in complete resolution of her symptoms. In conclusion, intestinal angioedema is a rare disease that should be suspected in cases of recurrent abdominal pain with negative workup, especially if the patient is taking ACEIs. Few cases were reported in the literature for patients on ACEI. In our case, the diagnosis was a challenge, as the patient was never on ACEI.

Hereditary Angio-Oedema for Dermatologists

Among angio-oedema patients, hereditary angio-oedema (HAE) should not be overlooked. Besides skin swellings, these patients might have very painful abdominal attacks and potentially life-threatening angio-oedema of the upper airway. They will not respond to traditional anti-allergic therapy with antihistamines, corticosteroids, and adrenaline, and instead need specific drugs targeting the kallikrein-kinin pathway. Classically, patients with HAE have a quantitative or qualitative deficiency of the C1 inhibitor (C1INH) due to different mutations in SERPING1, although a new subtype with normal C1INH has been recognised more recently. This latter variant is diagnosed based on clinical features, family history, or molecular genetic testing for mutations in F12, ANGPT1,or PLG.The diagnosis of HAE is often delayed due to a general unfamiliarity with this orphan disease. However, undiagnosed patients are at an increased risk of unnecessary surgical interventions or life-threatening laryngeal swellings. Within the last decade, new and effective therapies have been developed and launched for acute and prophylactic therapy. Even more drugs are under evaluation in clinical trials. It is therefore of utmost importance that patients with HAE are diagnosed as soon as possible and offered relevant therapy with orphan drugs to reduce morbidity, prevent mortality, and improve quality of life.

Hereditary Angioedema Type II: First Presentation in Adulthood with Recurrent Severe Abdominal Pain

A 27-year-old Emirate man presented to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi emergency department with a 4 year history of recurrent episodes of severe swellings affecting different parts of his body. He used to get 2 swelling episodes every week affecting either his face, hands, feet or scrotum and severe abdominal pain twice a week. Abdominal CT scan and a colonoscopy showed bowel wall oedema. There was no family history of similar complaint or of hereditary angioedema (HAE). Complement studies confirmed the diagnosis of HAE type II. He was commenced on danazol 100 mg twice daily and his symptoms resolved. This case report highlights the importance of considering HAE in patients with recurrent unexplained abdominal pain even in the absence of positive family history of HAE.

The physician and hereditary angioedema friend or foe: 62-year diagnostic delay and iatrogenic procedures

Background

Hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by episodes of acute subcutaneous swelling, and/or recurrent severe abdominal pain. The disease is potentially fatal if the upper-airway is involved. Iatrogenic harm can occur if HAE is not considered in the differential diagnosis, the specialists are not aware of the natural history, diagnosis and treatment of HAE, or as a result of unnecessary surgical and other iatrogenic interventions.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 72-year-old man who began suffering recurrent abdominal pain at the age of 8 years. The pain led to frequent emergency department visits, three emergency surgical interventions, and 5 endoscopies before C1-INH-HAE was diagnosed at the age of 70. Infrequent subcutaneous swellings were attributed to unknown allergic reactions that were not related to the primary diagnosis of abdominal pain. Family history was positive for recurrent abdominal pain and angioedema but was ignored until the propositus’ grandson developed recurrent severe oro-facial edema attacks. The boy’s mother searched the worldwide web and found educational materials on a patient association website. She suggested complement C4 and C1-INH testing that led to the appropriate diagnosis of C1-INH-HAE type 1 in her son and his grandfather.

Conclusion

This report emphasizes the importance of accurately evaluating personal and family history in patients with a long history of recurrent, acute, severe but medically unexplained abdominal pain and cutaneous swellings. Here, the diagnosis of HAE was overlooked for 62 years and the focus on abdominal complaints led to numerous surgical interventions without consideration of the full differential diagnosis. Screening family members from all generations for unrecognized angioedema, abdominal pain, and measurement of C1-INH and C4 are essential for accurate and timely diagnosis of HAE.

Angioedema: Classification, management and emerging therapies for the perioperative physician

Angioedema is a rare condition which manifests as sudden localised, non-pitting swelling of certain body parts including skin and mucous membranes. It is vital that anaesthesiologists understand this condition, as it may present suddenly in the perioperative period with airway compromise. To identify literature for this review, the authors searched the PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science databases for English language articles covering a 10-year period, 2006 through 2016. Angioedema can be either mast-cell mediated or bradykinin-induced. Older therapies for histaminergic symptoms are well known to anaesthesiologists (e.g., adrenaline, anti-histamines and steroids), whereas older therapies for bradykinin-induced symptoms include plasma and attenuated androgens. New classes of drugs for bradykinin-induced symptoms are now available, including anti-bradykinin, plasma kallikrein inhibitor and C1 esterase inhibitors. These can be used prophylactically or as rescue medications. Anaesthesiologists are in a unique position to coordinate perioperative care for this complex group of patients.

Diagnosis and screening of patients with hereditary angioedema in primary care

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disease that commonly manifests with episodes of cutaneous or submucosal angioedema and intense abdominal pain. The condition usually presents due to a deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) that leads to the overproduction of bradykinin, causing an abrupt increase in vascular permeability. A less-understood and less-common form of the disease presents with normal C1-INH levels. Symptoms of angioedema may be confused initially with mast cell-mediated angioedema, such as allergic reactions, and may perplex physicians when epinephrine, antihistamine, or glucocorticoid therapies do not provide relief. Similarly, abdominal attacks may lead to unnecessary surgeries or opiate dependence. All affected individuals are at risk for a life-threatening episode of laryngeal angioedema, which continues to be a source of fatalities due to asphyxiation. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is delayed on average by almost a decade due to a misunderstanding of symptoms and general lack of awareness of the disease. Once physicians suspect HAE, however, diagnostic methods are reliable and available at most laboratories, and include testing for C4, C1-INH protein, and C1-INH functional levels. In patients with HAE, management consists of acute treatment of an attack as well as possible short- or long-term prophylaxis. Plasma-derived C1-INH, ecallantide, icatibant, and recombinant human C1-INH are new treatments that have been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of HAE attacks. The current understanding of HAE has greatly improved in recent decades, leading to growing awareness, new treatments, improved management strategies, and better outcomes for patients.

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Misdiagnosed as Hereditary Angioedema

Hereditary angioedema is a rare, but potentially life-threatening genetic disorder that results from an autosomal dominant trait. It is characterized by acute, recurrent attacks of severe local edema, most commonly affecting the skin and mucosa. Swelling in hereditary angioedema patients does however not always have to be caused by angioedema but can relate to other concomitant disorders. In this report we are focusing on misdiagnosis in a patient with known hereditary angioedema, whose bleeding episode caused by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura was mistaken for an acute attack of hereditary angioedema. The case illustrates how clinicians can have difficulties in handling patients with rare diseases, especially in the emergency care setting.

Hereditary Angioedema and Gastrointestinal Complications: An Extensive Review of the Literature

Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant (AD) disease characterized by deficient (type 1) or nonfunctional (type 2) C1 inhibitor protein. The disorder is associated with episodes of angioedema of the face, larynx, lips, abdomen, or extremities. The angioedema is caused by the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system that leads to the release of vasoactive peptides, followed by edema, which in severe cases can be life threatening. The disease is usually not diagnosed until late adolescence and patients tend to have frequent episodes that can be severely impairing and have a high incidence of morbidity. Gastrointestinal involvement represents up to 80% of clinical presentations that are commonly confused with other gastrointestinal disorders such as appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and ischemic bower. We present a case of an HAE attack presenting as colonic intussusception managed conservatively with a C1 esterase inhibitor. Very few cases have been reported in the literature of HAE presentation in this manner, and there are no reports of any nonsurgical management of these cases.

Hereditary angioedema: what the gastroenterologist needs to know

Up to 93% of patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) experience recurrent abdominal pain. Many of these patients, who often present to emergency departments, primary care physicians, general surgeons, or gastroenterologists, are misdiagnosed for years and undergo unnecessary testing and surgical procedures. Making the diagnosis of HAE can be challenging because symptoms and attack locations are often inconsistent from one episode to the next. Abdominal attacks are common and can occur without other attack locations. An early, accurate diagnosis is central to managing HAE. Unexplained abdominal pain, particularly when accompanied by swelling of the face and extremities, suggests the diagnosis of HAE. A family history and radiologic imaging demonstrating edematous bowel also support an HAE diagnosis. Once HAE is suspected, C4 and C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) laboratory studies are usually diagnostic. Patients with HAE may benefit from recently approved specific treatments, including plasma-derived C1-INH or recombinant C1-INH, a bradykinin B2-receptor antagonist, or a kallikrein inhibitor as first-line therapy and solvent/detergent-treated or fresh frozen plasma as second-line therapy for acute episodes. Short-term or long-term prophylaxis with nanofiltered C1-INH or attenuated androgens will prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of episodes. Gastroenterologists can play a critical role in identifying and treating patients with HAE, and should have a high index of suspicion when encountering patients with recurrent, unexplained bouts of abdominal pain. Given the high rate of abdominal attacks in HAE, it is important for gastroenterologists to appropriately diagnose and promptly recognize and treat HAE, or refer patients with HAE to an allergist.

Hereditary angioedema: imaging manifestations and clinical management

Hereditary angioedema is a genetic disorder typically related to insufficient or dysfunctional C1-esterase inhibitor. Patients present with episodic swelling of various body parts, such as the face, neck, bowel, genitals, and extremities. Acute or severe symptoms can lead to patients presenting to the emergency room, particularly when the neck and abdominopelvic regions are affected, which is often accompanied by radiologic imaging evaluation. Patients with hereditary angioedema can pose a diagnostic challenge for emergency department physicians and radiologists at initial presentation, and the correct diagnosis may be missed or delayed, due to lack of clinical awareness of the disease or lack of its consideration in the radiologic differential diagnosis. Timely diagnosis of hereditary angioedema and rapid initiation of appropriate therapy can avoid potentially life-threatening complications. This article focuses on the spectrum of common and characteristic acute imaging manifestations of hereditary angioedema and provides an update on important recent developments in its clinical management and treatment.

Abdominal attacks and treatment in hereditary angioedema with C1-inhibitor deficiency

Background

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by unpredictable attacks of debilitating subcutaneous and mucosal edema. Gastrointestinal attacks are painful, of sudden onset and often mistaken for acute abdomen leading to unnecessary surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyze symptom presentation of gastrointestinal angioedema in pediatric and adult HAE patients.

Methods

Information collected during the clinical development of ecallantide for treatment of acute HAE attacks included affected anatomic location, accompanying symptoms, medical history, and pain assessments. Efficacy endpoints included Treatment Outcome Score (TOS, maximum score = 100; minimally important difference = 30), a point-in-time measure of treatment response, and time to treatment response.

Results

Forty-nine percent of 521 HAE attacks only involved abdominal symptoms. The most commonly reported abdominal symptoms were distension (77%), cramping (73%) and nausea (67%). The most common pain descriptors were tender, tiring-exhausting, aching, cramping and sickening. White blood cell counts were elevated (>10 × 10⁹/L) in 23% of attacks (mean ± SD: 15.1 ± 11.27 × 10⁹/L). A high proportion of patients reported a history of abdominal surgery, including appendectomy (23%), cholecystectomy (16.4%), and hysterectomy (8.2%). Mean TOS at 4 hours post ecallantide was 77±33 versus 29±65 for placebo. Median time to significant symptom resolution was 165 minutes (95% CI 136, 167) for ecallantide versus >4 hours (95% CI 161, >4 hours) for placebo. Anaphylactic reactions occurred in 6 of the 149 treated patients.

Conclusions

HAE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with recurrent discrete episodes of severe, unexplained crampy abdominal pain associated with nausea.

Trials registration

The data used in the analysis were gathered across multiple clinical trials conducted during the clinical development program for ecallantide. All of the studies were conducted using Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and in accordance with the ethical principles that have their origins in the Declaration of Helsinki. Each site that participated in the clinical trials obtained the appropriate IRB or Ethics Committee approval prior to enrolling any patients. All patients provided written informed consent prior to undergoing any study-related procedures. Pediatric patients provided written assent and their parents or guardians gave written informed consent.

The following trials have been registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov: EDEMA2 (identifier NCT01826916); EDEMA3 (identifier NCT00262080); EDEMA4 (identifier NCT00457015); and DX-88/19 (identifier NCT00456508).