Development, validation, and initial results of the Angioedema Activity Score

Validation and correlations of the Angioedema Activity Score (AAS), Angioedema Quality of Life (AE-QoL) questionnaire, and Angioedema Control Test (AECT) in Chinese patients with angioedema

Background

The impact of recurrent angioedema can be severely debilitating and remains difficult to quantify. Several standardized patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including the Angioedema Activity Score (AAS), Angioedema Quality of Life (AE-QoL) questionnaire, and Angioedema Control Test (AECT), have been developed and translated into different languages. However, these PROMs have yet to be validated in Chinese individuals, and their correlations in the Chinese population remain unknown.

Objective

Our aim was to validate the Chinese versions of the AAS, AE-QoL questionnaire, and AECT and assess their intercorrelations.

Methods

A prospective cohort of 118 Chinese patients with recurrent angioedema at the Angioedema and Urticaria Centre of Reference and Excellence in Hong Kong completed the traditional Chinese versions of the AAS, AE-QoL questionnaire, and AECT. We analyzed the reliability and validity of these PROMs and their correlations with each other as well as with generic PROMs.

Results

The Chinese AAS, AE-QoL questionnaire, and AECT demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.920, 0.976, and 0.832, respectively; McDonald ω = 0.972, 0.977, and 0.901, respectively). Confirmatory factor analysis for the AE-QoL questionnaire showed an acceptable fit with the 4-dimensional model (comparative fit index = 0.869; Tucker-Lewis index = 0.842). The AECT showed significant correlations with both the AAS and AE-QoL questionnaire (ρ = -0.750 and -0.456 respectively [both P < .05]). The AE-QoL questionnaire was moderately correlated with certain domains of generic PROMs such as the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health, version 2.0, and the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey, version 2 (all ρ < 0.60).

Conclusion

The Chinese AE-QoL questionnaire, AAS, and AECT are valid and reliable tools for use with Chinese patients. More validated tools should be made available to improve patient care and research for all patients with angioedema globally.

Analysis of disease burden in patients with hereditary angioedema from Japan by patient-reported outcomes

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) symptoms can vary greatly. Disease burden evaluation is essential for providing adequate treatments for patients. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), the Angioedema Quality of Life (AE-QoL), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: Specific Health Problem (WPAI:SHP) questionnaires, were collected in 2021, before modern medications for long-term prophylaxis (LTP) of HAE were licensed in Japan. Patients also reported their HAE attack frequency as "annual" (several attacks annually), "monthly" (several attacks monthly) or "weekly" (several attacks weekly). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted on the relationship between independent parameters (sex, age, attack frequency, HAE type, and HADS scores) and dependent parameters (AE-QoL and SF-12 scores). Fifty-four patients reported PROMs. All PROMs showed substantial health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment. Overall, the higher the attack frequencies, the greater the reported impairment in the PROMs tended to be. In multiple linear regression analyses, higher AE-QoL Fatigue/Mood and Fears/Shame domain scores (greater impairment) were associated with higher HADS anxiety subscale scores; higher AE-QoL total scores (greater HRQoL impairment) and lower SF-12 Physical and Mental Health Composite scores (greater general health impairment) were associated with higher HADS depression subscale scores. Patients with monthly or weekly HAE attacks reported numerically low absenteeism and numerically high presenteeism and work productivity loss as measured by the WPAI:SHP questionnaire. In this study, conducted before modern LTP options were available in Japan, patients with HAE reported notable impairment in HRQoL and work productivity. Weekly or monthly HAE attack frequencies were associated with a high disease burden. Furthermore, a substantial number of patients reported notable fatigue/mood impairment as measured by the AE-QoL and depression as measured by the HADS regardless of attack frequency. These results provide a basis for future studies evaluating the effect of LTP on the clinical manifestations and HRQoL in patients with HAE.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, Angioedema, and Atopic Dermatitis

Reducing the burden of disease for patients and families requires being able to measure health status changes related to disease severity, control, and response to treatment over time. Patient-reported outcomes are patient perceptions of their health status. Such perceptions are critical to decision making. Some patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are extensive and often intended to be used only for detailed research assessments. Many PROMs, however, form critical components of valid, reliable, and responsive assessments in clinical research and routine clinical practice. The smallest score change in a PROM that would lead to different decision making by patients is called the minimally important difference. Using PROMs may also offer advantages over general questions or unvalidated tools. With the innovation of technology, the ability to chronicle disease symptoms using communication technology (mobile phone applications) has become increasingly available. Collection of real-world data in this capacity will be very useful for identifying more precise phenotypes/endotypes necessary for investigation of tailored therapies for chronic spontaneous and inducible urticaria, angioedema, and atopic dermatitis. Here, we provide an overview of PROMs that have been developed for the assessment of disease severity, control, and quality of life and that have been validated for the use of adults and children with these skin disorders.

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Quality of Life and Economic Impacts

This study focuses on quality of life (QoL) assessment in chronic urticaria, delving into tools, disease-specific measures, and its profound impact. With expanding therapeutic options, understanding QoL becomes crucial. QoL measures often involve comparisons of patient-reported outcomes in addition to quantitative measures of disease control. Emerging tools include the Urticaria Activity and Impact Measure, which may provide a balanced evaluation. In addition to discussions of the various QoL measures, the psychological impact of chronic urticaria are highlighted, covering emotional burden, stress, and psychiatric comorbidities. Finally, the economic impacts reveal escalating health care costs and cost-effectiveness considerations of therapies like omalizumab.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Atopic Dermatitis and Chronic Urticaria Are Underused in Clinical Practice

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are validated and standardized tools that complement physician evaluations and guide treatment decisions. They are crucial for monitoring atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic urticaria (CU) in clinical practice, but there are unmet needs and knowledge gaps regarding their use in clinical practice.

OBJECCTIVE

We investigated the global real-world use of AD and CU PROMs in allergology and dermatology clinics as well as their associated local and regional networks.

METHODS

Across 72 specialized allergy and dermatology centers and their local and regional networks, 2,534 physicians in 73 countries completed a 53-item questionnaire on the use of PROMs for AD and CU.

RESULTS

Of 2,534 physicians, 1,308 were aware of PROMs. Of these, 14% and 15% used PROMs for AD and CU, respectively. Half of physicians who use PROMs do so only rarely or sometimes. Use of AD and CU PROM is associated with being female, younger, and a dermatologist. The Patient-Oriented Scoring Atopic Dermatitis Index and Urticaria Activity Score were the most common PROMs for AD and CU, respectively. Monitoring disease control and activity are the main drivers of the use of PROMs. Time constraints were the primary obstacle to using PROMs, followed by the impression that patients dislike PROMs. Users of AD and CU PROM would like training in selecting the proper PROM.

CONCLUSIONS

Although PROMs offer several benefits, their use in routine practice is suboptimal, and physicians perceive barriers to their use. It is essential to attain higher levels of PROM implementation in accordance with national and international standards.

A Core Outcome Set for Efficacy of Acute Treatment of Hereditary Angioedema

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials investigating drugs for the acute treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks have assessed many different outcomes. This heterogeneity limits the comparability of trial results and may lead to selective outcome reporting bias and a high burden on trial participants.

OBJECTIVE

To achieve consensus on a core outcome set composed of key outcomes that ideally should be used in all clinical efficacy trials involving the acute treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks.

METHODS

We conducted a Delphi consensus study involving all relevant parties: patients with hereditary angioedema, hereditary angioedema expert clinicians and clinical researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory bodies. Two Internet-based survey rounds were conducted. In round 1, panelists indicated the importance of individual outcomes used in clinical trials on a 9-point Likert scale. Based on these results, a core outcome set was developed and voted on by panelists in round 2.

RESULTS

A total of 58 worldwide panelists completed both rounds. The first round demonstrated high importance scores and substantial agreement among the panelists. In the second round, a consensus of 90% or greater was achieved on a core outcome set consisting of five key outcomes: change in overall symptom severity at one predetermined time point between 15 minutes and 4 hours after treatment, time to end of progression of all symptoms, the need for rescue medication during the entire attack, impairment of daily activities, and treatment satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

This international study obtained a high level of consensus on a core outcome set for the acute treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks, consisting of five key outcomes.

Immunopathogenesis of urticaria: a clinical perspective on histamine and cytokine involvement

BACKGROUND

Urticaria is a clinical condition characterized by the appearance of wheals (hives), angioedema, or both. Over the last several decades, a better understanding of the mechanisms at play in the immunopathogenesis of urticaria has underscored the existence of numerous urticaria subtypes. Separating the different kinds of urticaria explicitly helps find the best detection method for the management of this skin disorder. Subtypes of urticaria also include both spontaneous and physical types. The conventional ones include spontaneous urticaria, constituting both acute and chronic urticaria. Therefore, a broad and effective therapy is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of urticaria.

METHODS

To understand the immunopathogenesis of urticaria, various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, were used to retrieve original articles and reviews related to urticaria. While information on several clinical trials were obtained from clinicaltrials.gov database.

RESULTS

This article highlights the immunopathogenesis involved in the intricate interaction between cellular infiltration, immune reactions, coagulation cascades, and autoantibodies that underlie urticaria's pathophysiology.

CONCLUSION

The recent progress in understanding urticaria can help to understand the intricate characteristics in the immunopathogenesis of urticaria and could play a beneficial role in the management of urticaria.

[What are the main symptoms of urticaria and how are they systematically recorded?]

Wheals or angioedema or both are the main symptoms of urticaria. The small number of the symptoms usually makes diagnosis easy. What is not trivial, however, is the comprehensive systematic recording and assessment of these symptoms and, above all, their sequelae, which affect many areas of the patient's life. Disease activity, quality of life and disease control can and should be measured before and during treatment in order to optimally adapt therapeutic measures. The instruments developed for this purpose have become easier and more convenient to use in recent years thanks to user-friendly platforms such as mobile health apps.

Monitoring recurrent angioedema: Findings from the Turkish angioedema control test validation study

BACKGROUND

Determination of control level in recurrent angioedema (RAE) is necessary to guide management. Here, we validated a Turkish version of the angioedema control test (AECT) for 4-week (AECT-4wk) and for 3-month (AECT-3mth) and assessed their utility in monitoring RAE.

METHOD

The recommended structured translation process for patient-reported outcome measures was completed. The final versions were administered to 51 patients with mast cell-mediated angioedema (MMAE) and 38 patients with hereditary angioedema, and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was determined. Additionally, anchor surveys comprising angioedema activity score for 28 days (AAS-28 day), visual analog score for angioedema control, Likert scale for the control level from the patient's perspective (LS-AEC), angioedema quality of life, short form-12 (SF-12) and patients' assessment of treatment sufficiency were applied.

RESULTS

The Turkish AECT versions showed good convergent validity with a substantial correlation with anchor tools and known-group validity. Excellent internal consistency and reproducibility were observed. Equal or more than 10 of 16 points scored with the AECT-4wk and AECT-3mth identified patients with well-controlled disease. The disease activity, control and burden parameters were consistent with the disease control level defined depending on the cut-off point 10 of AECT. Three-point changes in AECT-4wk and -3 mt could detect MCID in disease control in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Turkish AECT versions are valid and reliable tools for assessing and monitoring disease control in patients with RAE. The use of the Turkish versions of the AECT in routine patient care, clinical trials and angioedema research is recommended.

Mepolizumab incompletely suppresses clinical flares in a pilot study of episodic angioedema with eosinophilia

BACKGROUND

Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia (EAE) is a rare multilineage cyclic syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by episodes of angioedema, myalgia, fatigue, and fever that occur every 3 to 8 weeks and resolve between episodes without therapy. Cyclic elevations in serum IL-5 levels and neutrophils precede the increase in absolute eosinophil count (AEC) in most patients.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to assess the role of IL-5-driven eosinophilia in the clinical manifestations of EAE.

METHODS

An open-label pilot study of mepolizumab (700 mg intravenously monthly for 3 months followed by sequential dose reduction to the Food and Drug Administration-approved dose of 300 mg subcutaneously monthly) was conducted. The primary end point was reduction in the number and severity of clinical symptoms as assessed by patient-reported symptom questionnaires. Secondary end points were greater than or equal to 75% reduction in peak AEC after 1 dose of mepolizumab and sustained reduction in AEC after 3 doses of mepolizumab. Exploratory end points included effects of mepolizumab treatment on other cell lineages (numbers and surface marker expression), levels of plasma mediators, and biomarkers of eosinophil activation.

RESULTS

Four female and 1 male (median age, 45 years) participants with EAE were enrolled. None of the 5 participants experienced a reduction in the number of symptomatic flares on mepolizumab therapy, and 1 participant withdrew before study completion because of lack of improvement. Peak AEC was reduced by 75% or more in 3 participants after the first dose of mepolizumab and in 4 participants after 3 doses.

CONCLUSIONS

In a small cohort of participants with EAE, mepolizumab was unsuccessful in substantially reducing clinical symptoms despite reduction in AEC.

Clinical Characteristics and Quality of Life in a Cohort of Polish Pediatric Patients with Hereditary Angioedema

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disease. It is characterized by recurrent attacks of angioedema. Evidence to what extent it affects patient functioning is limited in the pediatric population. We aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and management of Polish children with HAE and to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of these patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 21 pediatric patients and their caregivers, as well as 21 respective controls randomly selected from the general population. During routine follow-up visits, standardized pediatric quality of life questionnaires (PedsQLTM 4.0) were administered to all caregivers and adolescents (≥13 years). Caregivers also completed a structured medical interview regarding the clinical characteristics and treatment of children with HAE during the previous six months. During this period, 57% of patients had low (group I), 24% moderate (group II), and 19% high (group III) HAE activity, corresponding to ≥10 attacks per 6 months. None of the patients received long-term prophylaxis. The children in group III had a lower HRQoL than other groups and controls on all dimensions of the PedsQLTM 4.0. The lowest scores in all groups were observed in the emotional functioning domain. Our data demonstrate that the burden of HAE on the quality of life of pediatric patients and their families encompasses a wide range of daily functioning.

CRUSE® -An innovative mobile application for patient monitoring and management in chronic spontaneous urticaria

BACKGROUND

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is unpredictable and can severely impair patients' quality of life. Patients with CSU need a convenient, user-friendly platform to complete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on their mobile devices. CRUSE® , the Chronic Urticaria Self Evaluation app, aims to address this unmet need.

METHODS

CRUSE® was developed by an international steering committee of urticaria specialists. Priorities for the app based on recent findings in CSU were defined to allow patients to track and record their symptoms and medication use over time and send photographs. The CRUSE® app collects patient data such as age, sex, disease onset, triggers, medication, and CSU characteristics that can be sent securely to physicians, providing real-time insights. Additionally, CRUSE® contains PROMs to assess disease activity and control, which are individualised to patient profiles and clinical manifestations.

RESULTS

CRUSE® was launched in Germany in March 2022 and is now available for free in 17 countries. It is adapted to the local language and displays a country-specific list of available urticaria medications. English and Ukrainian versions are available worldwide. From July 2022 to June 2023, 25,710 observations were documented by 2540 users; 72.7% were females, with a mean age of 39.6 years. At baseline, 93.7% and 51.3% of users had wheals and angioedema, respectively. Second-generation antihistamines were used in 74.0% of days.

CONCLUSIONS

The initial data from CRUSE® show the wide use and utility of effectively tracking patients' disease activity and control, paving the way for personalised CSU management.

The 7-day recall period version of the Urticaria Control Test-UCT7

BACKGROUND

The Urticaria Control Test (UCT) is a well-established, very easy to use and calculate 4-item patient-reported outcome measure to assess chronic urticaria disease control during the previous 4 weeks. Clinical trials and practice may benefit from the use of a UCT version with a shorter recall period, but this does not exist.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to develop and validate a UCT version with a 7-day recall period, the UCT7.

METHODS

The UCT7 was developed, based on the UCT, and tested, in 152 patients with chronic urticaria (spontaneous: n = 101, inducible: n = 51) for its reliability, validity and screening accuracy, and clinimetric properties, in other words, the cutoff for well-controlled disease and the minimal clinically important difference.

RESULTS

The UCT7 showed excellent internal consistency reliability with a Cronbach αvalue of 0.91 and test-retest reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.83. Convergent validity was high and strongly correlated with anchors of disease control, wheal and angioedema frequency, and urticaria-related quality of life impairment. The UCT7 showed excellent sensitivity to change; however, changes in angioedema activity and impact did not correlate well with changes in UCT7. Based on receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the proportion of correctly classified patients, and patients' assessment of treatment efficacy, we recommend a cutoff value of 12 points for identifying patients with well-controlled disease. The UCT7 minimal clinically important difference for improvement was estimated to be 2 points.

CONCLUSIONS

The UCT7 is a validated 7-day recall period version of the UCT. It is ideal for the assessment of disease control at short intervals in patients with chronic urticaria in clinical studies and practice.

How Does Pregnancy and Type of Delivery Affect the Clinical Course of Hereditary Angioedema?

INTRODUCTION

Knowledge on the clinical course of hereditary angioedema (HAE) during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding is very limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the course of HAE during these periods.

METHODS

The HAE attacks C1-INH prophylaxis before and during pregnancy and during breastfeeding, and the delivery types were retrospectively determined. The severity of attacks was assessed by a 10-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

RESULTS

We evaluated 88 pregnancies in 48 HAE patients among whom 20 were primiparous. Among those who had a HAE diagnosis during pregnancy (n = 34), the median attack numbers before pregnancy, during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and after breastfeeding were 17, 39, 24, and 14 (before pregnancy vs. pregnancy, p < 0.001; during pregnancy vs. breastfeeding, p = 0.001). The mean VASs (SD) were 6.59 (1.82), 8.33 (1.58), 7.32 (1.66), and 6.95 (1.90) (before pregnancy vs. pregnancy, p < 0.001; during pregnancy vs. breastfeeding, p = 0.016), respectively. Among those who received a HAE diagnosis after pregnancy (n = 54), the number (59.3%) and the severity (60%) of HAE attacks were high in pregnancy. 47 of the deliveries were normal vaginal delivery (NVD). Regional anesthesia was applied in 8 NVDs. 20 of caesarean deliveries were performed under general anesthesia, and 21 were under spinal anesthesia. Lowest numbers of attacks were found in patients who did not receive anesthesia during NVD (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The course of HAE can be worse during pregnancy and breastfeeding. NVD is related to fewer HAE attacks and prophylaxis with C1-INH during NVD is not necessary to prevent a HAE attack.

Sensitivity to change and minimal clinically important difference of the angioedema control test

BACKGROUND

The Angioedema Control Test (AECT) is a patient-reported outcome measure developed and validated for the assessment of disease control in patients with recurrent angioedema. Its sensitivity to change and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) have hitherto not been established.

METHODS

Patients with recurrent angioedema due to chronic spontaneous urticaria, hereditary angioedema, or acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency were repeatedly asked to complete the AECT along with the Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and anchors for disease control and whether treatment was sufficient during routine care visits. The sensitivity to the change of the AECT was determined by correlating changes in its scores over time with changes in the applied anchors. The MCID was determined using anchor-based and distributional criterion-based approaches.

RESULTS

Eighty-six cases were used for this analysis. Changes in AECT scores correlated well with AE-QoL changes (but less with changes in the DLQI) as well as other applied anchors, demonstrating its sensitivity to change. The MCID was found to be three points for improvement of angioedema control. The available number of cases with meaningful deterioration in our dataset was too low to reach a definite conclusion on the MCID for deterioration of angioedema control.

CONCLUSION

The AECT is a valuable tool to assess changes in disease control in patients with recurrent angioedema over time. The lowest AECT score change that reflects a meaningful improvement of disease control to patients (MCID) is three points.

Current challenges and future opportunities in patient-focused management of hereditary angioedema: A narrative review

Patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) experience a high burden of disease due to unpredictable, painful, disfiguring, and potentially life-threatening HAE attacks. Multiple HAE-specific medications for the on-demand treatment, short-term and long-term prophylaxis of HAE attacks have entered the market in recent years; however, the availability and access to these medications may vary between different countries. For this review, PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for guidelines, consensus statements, and other publications on HAE management as well as publications on quality of life in patients with HAE. The current guidelines and recent literature on HAE management in specific countries are summarized with the aim to highlight the similarities and differences between guideline recommendations and the country-specific clinical practice. Improvement in quality of life, which is a key goal in HAE management, is also discussed and the country-specific trends are highlighted. Finally, the ways to achieve a more patient-centric approach to HAE management within the framework set by the clinical management guidelines are examined.

Content validation and psychometric evaluation of the Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire for hereditary angioedema

BACKGROUND

There is considerable burden of illness in hereditary angioedema (HAE). However, instruments to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in HAE are limited. The Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL) was developed to measure HRQoL in patients with recurrent angioedema; the validity of the AE-QoL in patients with HAE is described.

METHODS

To identify disease-related experiences with a focus on the impact of HAE on HRQoL, interviews were conducted with a group of clinician experts and patients with HAE from Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with a targeted literature review. Concepts were mapped to the AE-QoL to assess item relevance, interpretation, and conceptual coverage. Cognitive interviews assessed item clarity and relevance. A psychometric validation was performed using data from a phase 3 trial.

RESULTS

Interviews were conducted with seven clinicians and 40 adult patients. Patients reported 35 unique impacts of HAE on their lives, the most frequent being on work/school, social relationships, physical activities, and emotions, particularly fear/worrying and anxiety. Saturation for these impacts was reached, and all concepts covered in the AE-QoL were reported during the interviews. Patients agreed that the questionnaire items and response options were clear and relevant, and the 4-week recall period was appropriate. The psychometric validation included data from 64 patients. For AE-QoL total scores, excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.90), test-retest reliability (intraclass coefficient > 0.80), convergent validity with the Sheehan Disability Scale (r = 0.663), divergent validity with the EQ-5D-5L index (r = 0.292) and EQ-VAS (r = 0.337), and known-groups validity (p < 0.0001; ɳ2 = 0.56) were demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

Qualitative and psychometric analyses showed that the AE-QoL is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring HRQoL in adult patients with HAE from six countries.

S3 Guideline Urticaria. Part 1: Classification and diagnosis of urticaria - German-language adaptation of the international S3 Guideline

The lifetime prevalence of urticaria, a severe allergic disease, is almost 20%. It not only limits the quality of life of those affected, but also their general performance at work and in their daily activities. This publication is the first section of the Urticaria Guideline. It covers the classification and diagnosis of urticaria, taking into account the major advances in research into its causes, triggering factors and pathomechanisms. It also addresses strategies for the efficient diagnosis of the different subtypes of urticaria. This is crucial for individual, patient-oriented treatment, which is covered in the second part of the guideline, published separately. This German-language guideline was developed according to the criteria of the AWMF on the basis of the international English-language S3 guideline with special consideration of health system characteristics in the German-speaking countries. This first part of the guideline describes the classification of urticaria, distinguishing spontaneously occurring wheals (hives) and angioedema from forms of urticaria with inducible symptoms. Urticaria is defined as sudden onset of wheals, angioedema, or both, but is to be distinguished from conditions in which wheals occur as a short-term symptom, such as anaphylaxis. The diagnosis is based on (a limited number of) laboratory tests, but especially on medical history. In addition, validated instruments are available to measure the severity, activity and course of the disease.

The symptom experience of hereditary angioedema (HAE) patients beyond HAE attacks: literature review and clinician interviews

BACKGROUND

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a genetic disorder characterized by re-occurring swelling episodes called "attacks," usually in the limbs, face, airways, and intestinal tract. New prophylactic therapies have reduced the frequency of these attacks. This study describes results from a literature review and clinician interviews assessing patient HAE symptom experiences and timing, and then evaluates whether existing patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools adequately reflect this experience.

METHODS

A targeted literature review as well as interviews with key opinion leaders (KOLs), were conducted to capture information about the patient experience and their symptoms. An assessment of various PROs was then conducted to determine how well they each covered HAE symptoms and impacts.

RESULTS

Nineteen HAE symptoms were identified. KOLs reported that patients on prophylactic therapy experienced some symptoms indicating an attack was imminent, but then never experienced an attack. The comparison of the different PROs found that the Hereditary Angioedema Patient-Reported Outcome was the instrument that most thoroughly examined the symptoms of patients with HAE.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the introduction of new prophylactic therapies, further research is needed to determine the effect of being attack-free for longer periods of time on health-related quality of life.

Development of the Cold Urticaria Activity Score

BACKGROUND

Cold urticaria (ColdU) is a form of inducible urticaria where cold induces wheals and/or angioedema. The burden of disease is high and linked to trigger thresholds, exposure, and avoidance. There are presently no validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess and monitor disease activity. Our objective was to develop a disease-specific activity score for ColdU that is easy to administer and evaluate.

METHODS

A Cold Urticaria Activity Score (ColdUAS) questionnaire was developed, directed by PROM developing guidelines. After the generation of a conceptional framework, the item generation phase included the literature research on ColdU signs and symptoms and on comparable tools for similar diseases and 47 ColdU patient interviews. Subsequently, an impact analysis for content validity was performed. The final selection of items underwent expert review for face validity and cognitive debriefing.

RESULTS

The ColdUAS, a self-administered questionnaire for the prospective assessment of disease activity in patients with ColdU, consists of 4 items: 1. the frequency and severity of the signs (wheals and/or angioedema), 2. the frequency and severity of the symptoms (e.g., itch and burn), 3. the exposure to specific triggers, and 4. the avoidance of these triggers. The recall period for each item is the last 24 h.

CONCLUSIONS

The ColdUAS is the first disease-specific PROM to assess ColdU disease activity. It may help to better assess patients' disease status in routine clinical practice as well as in clinical trials. Anchor-based approaches are currently used to validate the ColdUAS.

Long-term prophylaxis with lanadelumab for HAE: authorization for temporary use in France

Background

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is associated with a heavy burden of illness.

Objective

To evaluate use of lanadelumab in a French Authorization for Temporary Use (ATU) program.

Methods

ATU requests were made between October 12, 2018, and March 13, 2019; patients were followed through September 23, 2019. At entry, patients received lanadelumab 300 mg every 2 weeks. HAE attack characteristics were evaluated at day (D) 0 and months (M) 3 and 6. Patients completed the Angioedema Quality of Life (AE-QoL) questionnaire at initiation and monthly and the Angioedema Activity Score questionnaire daily in 28 day cycles (AAS28).

Results

In total, 77 patients received ≥ 1 lanadelumab dose; 69 had ≥ 1 quarterly follow-up visit (analyzed population). Mean (standard deviation [SD]) lanadelumab exposure was 240.4 (53.7) days. Lanadelumab dose was modified in 12 patients (mostly to every 4 weeks). For the analyzed population, compared with attacks/month (mean [SD]) within 6 months before ATU (2.68 [2.54]), fewer attacks occurred between initiation and first visit (0.16 [0.42]; P < 0.001) or last visit (0.16 [0.42]; P < 0.001); D15 and last visit (0.15 [0.41]); and D70 and last visit (0.17 [0.70]). AE-QoL total and domain scores were significantly higher at initiation versus M3 and M6; 55% and 65% of patients, respectively, achieved a minimal clinically important difference from D0 to M3 and D0 to M6. Proportion of patients with AAS28 of 0 was higher during M3 (90%) and M6 (83%) than initiation (59%). The most frequently reported adverse events included headache (7.3%) and injection site pain (6.3%).

Conclusions

Lanadelumab reduced attack rates, improved quality of life, and was generally well tolerated.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13223-022-00664-4.

The international EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria

This update and revision of the international guideline for urticaria was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN) and its Urticaria and Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCAREs and ACAREs), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF; EuroGuiDerm), and the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology with the participation of 64 delegates of 50 national and international societies and from 31 countries. The consensus conference was held on 3 December 2020. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease that presents with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous or inducible urticaria is disabling, impairs quality of life, and affects performance at work and school. This updated version of the international guideline for urticaria covers the definition and classification of urticaria and outlines expert-guided and evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria.

The place of scales and questionnaires in assessing the disease’s severity and the long-term prophylaxis’s prescribing in patients with hereditary angioedema

Hereditary angioedema is a hereditary life-threatening disease characterized by recurrent angioedema of various strength and localization. To date, definite diseases severity criteria have not been developed. There are many different factors to consider not only the frequency of episodes, but also their duration, strength, influence on the patient's appearance, the severity of the pain syndrome. Disease related quality of life, the number of work disability days, and the patient's satisfaction with the prescribed treatment are important. In addition, there are no criteria for prescribing long-term prophylaxis, and no parameters for choosing a specific drug. The introduction of specific scales and questionnaires developed to assess such characteristics as disease activity, disease control, quality of life in patients with recurrent angioedema into clinical practice seems to be the best solution for both questions. The comprehensive understanding of the diseases severity in a particular patient can be carried out with the combined use of assessment tools.

Attenuated androgen discontinuation in patients with hereditary angioedema: a commented case series

Background

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by potentially severe and life-threatening attacks of localized swelling. Prophylactic therapies are available, including attenuated androgens. Efficacy of attenuated androgens has not been assessed in large, randomized, placebo-controlled trials and can be associated with frequent, and sometimes severe, side effects. As better tolerated targeted therapies become available, attenuated androgen withdrawal is increasingly considered by physicians and their patients with HAE. Attenuated androgens withdrawal has not been systematically studied in HAE, although examination of other disorders indicates that attenuated androgen withdrawal may result in mood disturbances and flu-like symptoms. Standardized protocols for attenuated androgen discontinuation that continue to provide control of attacks while limiting potential attenuated androgen withdrawal symptoms are not established as the outcomes of different withdrawal strategies have not been compared. We aim to describe the challenges of attenuated androgen discontinuation in patients with HAE and how these may continue into the post-androgen period.

Case presentation

We present a retrospective case series of 10 patients with confirmed type I HAE who have discontinued prophylactic treatment with attenuated androgens. The most common reason for attenuated androgen discontinuation was side effects. Attenuated androgens were either immediately withdrawn, tapered and/or overlapped with another treatment. The major challenge of discontinuation was the management of an increased frequency and severity of HAE attacks in some patients.

Conclusions

Healthcare teams need to undertake careful planning and monitoring after attenuated androgens discontinuation, and modify treatment strategies if HAE control is destabilized with an increased number of attacks. Discontinuation of attenuated androgens is definitively an option in an evolving HAE treatment landscape, and outcomes can be favourable with additional patient support and education.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13223-021-00644-0.

The international WAO/EAACI guideline for the management of hereditary angioedema-The 2021 revision and update

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare and disabling disease for which early diagnosis and effective therapy are critical. This revision and update of the global WAO/EAACI guideline on the diagnosis and management of HAE provides up-to-date guidance for the management of HAE. For this update and revision of the guideline, an international panel of experts reviewed the existing evidence, developed 28 recommendations, and established consensus by an online DELPHI process. The goal of these recommendations and guideline is to help physicians and their patients in making rational decisions in the management of HAE with deficient C1 inhibitor (type 1) and HAE with dysfunctional C1 inhibitor (type 2), by providing guidance on common and important clinical issues, such as: (1) How should HAE be diagnosed? (2) When should HAE patients receive prophylactic on top of on-demand treatment and what treatments should be used? (3) What are the goals of treatment? (4) Should HAE management be different for special HAE patient groups such as children or pregnant/breast-feeding women? and (5) How should HAE patients monitor their disease activity, impact, and control? It is also the intention of this guideline to help establish global standards for the management of HAE and to encourage and facilitate the use of recommended diagnostics and therapies for all patients.

Expert consensus on the use of omalizumab in chronic urticaria in China

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a debilitating skin disease that lasts for more than 6 weeks with wheals and/or angioedema, including chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU). In China, the prevalence of this disease is high, more than 1%, and on the rise. CU has a major impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients who frequently experience sleep disturbance, depression, and anxiety. Nearly one-third of patients with CSU, in China, are resistant to second-generation H₁-antihistamines (sgAHs), even at a fourfold dose (second line; off-label). Omalizumab is approved for the treatment of CSU treatment in Europe and shows remarkable efficacy and safety. In China, regulatory approval for the use of omalizumab is pending, and its use in clinical practice varies widely. Consensus on omalizumab CU treatment in China is urgently needed. The aim of this article is to propose a practical omalizumab treatment algorithm for the management of antihistamine-resistant CSU and CIndU in adults and special population including children and adolescents, and pregnant or breast feeding women, to guide daily clinical practice in China. In the development of this consensus, an expert group including mainly dermatologists, allergists, but also pulmonologists, ENTs, immunologists, and pediatricians in Allergic Disease Prevention and Control Committee, Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, reviewed the existing evidence and developed consensus on the use of omalizumab in CU patients from China. The goal of this consensus is to assist clinicians in making rational decisions in the management of refractory CU with omalizumab. The key clinical questions covered by the treatment algorithm are: 1) Omalizumab treatment routine strategy in both CSU and CIndU patients; 2) Recommended dose and treatment duration for different age stratification; 3) Treatment duration for CU patients with other allergic comorbidities; 4) Recommendation on omalizumab stopping strategy.

Quality of life in patients with allergic and immunologic skin diseases: in the eye of the beholder

Allergic and immunologic skin diseases negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of affected patients with detrimental consequences. Nonetheless, in everyday clinical practice the evaluation of QoL is often overlooked. Considering the increasing prevalence of atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, hereditary angioedema, cutaneous mastocytosis, and urticaria, it is essential to determine the effects of allergic and immunologic skin diseases on QoL. A joint meeting (GET TOGETHER 2021) of the Italian Society of Allergology, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (SIAAIC) and the Italian Society of Allergological, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology (SIDAPA) aimed to summarize the features of the main QoL tools used in these diseases and to describe the extent of QoL impairment as well as the impact of treatments on QoL, particularly biologic therapies. The assessment of QoL in patients with allergic and immunologic skin diseases relies on generic, organ-specific and disease-specific questionnaires. While generic and organ-specific questionnaires allow comparison between different diseases, disease-specific questionnaires are designed and validated for specific cohorts: the QoL Index for Atopic Dermatitis (QoLIAD) and the Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale (CADIS) in atopic dermatitis, the ACD-11 in allergic contact dermatitis, the Angioedema QoL Questionnaire (AE-QoL) and the Hereditary Angioedema QoL questionnaire (HAE-QoL) in hereditary angioedema, the Mastocytosis QoL Questionnaires (MCQoL e MQLQ) in cutaneous mastocytosis, and the Chronic Urticaria QoL questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) in urticaria. Among the many factors that variably contribute to QoL impairment, pruritus can represent the leading cause of patient discomfort. Biologic therapies significantly ameliorate QoL in atopic dermatitis, hereditary angioedema, mastocytosis and chronic urticaria. In general, adequate management strategies are essential for improving QoL in patients with allergic and immunologic skin diseases.

British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for the management of people with chronic urticaria 2021

The overall objective of the guideline is to provide up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations for the management of urticaria. The document aims to: offer an appraisal of all relevant literature up to March 2020, focusing on any key developments address important, practical clinical questions relating to the primary guideline objective provide guideline recommendations and if appropriate research recommendations The guideline is presented as a detailed review with highlighted recommendations for practical use in primary, secondary and tertiary care, in addition to an updated Patient Information Leaflet (PIL; available on the BAD Skin Health Information website, https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/a-z-conditions-treatments/).

Differences and Similarities in the Mechanisms and Clinical Expression of Bradykinin-Mediated vs. Mast Cell-Mediated Angioedema

Angioedema (AE), transient localized swelling due to extravasated fluid, is commonly classified as mast cell mediator-induced, bradykinin-mediated or of unknown cause. AE often occurs more than once, and it is these recurrent forms of AE that are challenging for patients and physicians, and they are the ones we focus on and refer to as AE in this review. Since effective treatment depends on the causative mediator, reliable and early diagnosis is essential. Although their clinical presentations bear similarities, many forms of angioedema exhibit specific patterns of clinical appearance or disease history that may aid in diagnosis. Here, we describe the most common differences and similarities in the mechanisms and clinical features of bradykinin-mediated and mast cell mediator-induced types of angioedema. We first provide an overview of the diseases that manifest with mast cell mediator-induced versus bradykinin-mediated angioedema as well as their respective underlying pathogenesis. We then compare these diseases for key clinical features, including angioedema location, course and duration of swelling, attack frequency, prevalence and relevance of prodromal signs and symptoms, triggers of angioedema attacks, and other signs and symptoms including wheals, age of onset, and duration. Our review and comparison of the clinical profiles of different types of angioedema incorporate our own clinical experience as well as published information. Our aim is to highlight that mast cell mediator-induced and bradykinin-mediated angioedema types share common features but are different in many aspects. Knowledge of the differences in underlying pathomechanisms and clinical profiles between different types of angioedema can help with the diagnostic approach in affected patients and facilitate targeted and effective treatment.

Impact of anxiety, stress and depression related to COVID-19 pandemic on the course of hereditary angioedema with C1-inhibitor deficiency

BACKGROUND

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks can be provoked with psychological factors. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of anxiety, depression and stress related to COVID-19 pandemic on disease activity of HAE patients during the quarantine period (QP) and the return to normal period (RTNP).

METHODS

This study was conducted between March 2020 and September 2020 in four allergy centres. Demographic, clinical features and mental health status were evaluated in QP (from March to the beginning of June) and RTNP (from June to the beginning of September) applied by the government. The 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS10) was used to define the severity of HAE attacks. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and Fear of COVID-19 (FC-19) scale were performed to assess mental health status.

RESULTS

139 HAE patients were included in the study. In QP, median attack numbers and median VAS10 scores were 5 (min-max: 0-45) and 6 (min-max: 0-10), respectively. HAE attack numbers, DASS-21 stress, anxiety, depression and total DASS-21 scores, and FC-19 scores were higher in QP than RTNP (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). However, there was no difference in attack severity scores between the two periods (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that the restriction measures during COVID-19 outbreak cause an increase in the number of HAE attacks in relation to anxiety, depression, stress and fear of COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is important to provide psychological support to HAE patients during the pandemic.

Assessment of disease activity and quality of life in patients with recurrent bradykinin-mediated versus mast cell-mediated angioedema

Objective

Recurrent Angioedema (RAE) is characterized by sudden swelling of mucosal surfaces or deep dermis and is either mast cell-(MMAE) or bradykinin-mediated (BMAE). How patients with BMAE and MMAE differ in terms of disease activity and impact remains largely unknown. Here, we determined validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change of Turkish versions of angioedema activity score (AAS) and quality of life questionnaire (AE-QoL) and used both instruments to investigate and compare patients with BMAE and MMAE.

Methods

Turkish versions of AAS28 and AE-QoL were applied to 94 patients with RAE (18–72 years). Patients’ global self-assessment of QoL (PGA-QoL), disease activity (PGA-DA-VRS, PatGA-DA-VAS), and 12-Item-Short Form Survey were used at week 4 (visit 2), and week 8 (visit 3). Demographic characteristics, clinical features, and AAS28 and AE-QoL values were compared between 31 patients with BMAE and 63 patients with MMAE.

Results

Turkish AAS28 and AE-QoL showed excellent internal consistency, high reproducibility and known-groups validity. Compared to patients with MMAE, BMAE patients were younger (34.6 ± 10.7 vs. 40.7 ± 13.3 years), had longer disease duration (236 ± 178 vs. 51 ± 78 months), high prevalence of family history (63% vs 14%), longer duration of attacks (65 ± 20 vs. 40 ± 25 h), and they were more commonly affected by upper airway angioedema (70% vs 23%). Disease activity (AAS28) was lower (29.3 ± 24.6 vs 55.2 ± 52.9), but AE-QoL was higher (44.2 ± 16.1 vs 34.5 ± 22.5) in BMAE patients as compared to MMAE patients.

Conclusions

Patients with BMAE and MMAE have distinct disease characteristics. Recurrent bradykinin-mediated angioedema impacts quality of life more than mast cell-mediated angioedema. The discriminating characteristics of patients with BMAE and MMAE may help to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with RAE.

Treatment satisfaction in chronic urticaria during guideline-based therapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Patients with chronic urticaria are often unsatisfied with their treatment. We aimed to assess patient satisfaction, chronic urticaria control, treatment goals, self-treatment competence, knowledge, and factors influencing treatment satisfaction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty-seven adult patients with chronic urticaria who were previously insufficiently treated with oral antihistamines received guideline-based care for six months and completed questionnaires.

RESULTS

This study included patients with chronic spontaneous (80 %) and/or inducible urticaria (CIndU, 32 %). Significant median improvements were observed with the urticaria control test (UCT, from 7 to 11), the urticaria activity score for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (from 19 to 10), and treatment satisfaction (from 5.2 to 8.4). Six significant, independent factors of treatment satisfaction after six months of treatment were identified (negative: male sex, CIndU, sleep disturbances; positive: UCT, baseline treatment satisfaction, perceived competence of the study physician). Adequate urticaria control (UCT ≥ 12) was achieved in 19 % of patients with CIndU and 61 % of patients without CIndU.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with chronic urticaria who were previously insufficiently treated with antihistamines, six months of guideline-based therapy significantly improved disease control and treatment satisfaction. Adequate control requires several consultations for many patients and is considerably more difficult to achieve for CIndU.

Assessment and management of disease burden and quality of life in patients with hereditary angioedema: a consensus report

BACKGROUND

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease characterized by unpredictable, potentially life-threatening attacks, resulting in significant physical and emotional burdens for patients and families. To optimize care for patients with HAE, an individualized management plan should be considered in partnership with the physician, requiring comprehensive assessment of the patient's frequency and severity of attacks, disease burden, and therapeutic control. Although several guidelines and consensus papers have been published concerning the diagnosis and treatment of HAE, there has been limited specific clinical guidance on the assessment of disease burden and quality of life (QoL) in this patient population. Practical guidance is critical in supporting effective long-term clinical management of HAE and improving patient outcomes. The objective of this review is to provide evidence-based guidelines for an individualized assessment of disease burden and QoL in patients with HAE.

METHODS

A consensus meeting was held on February 29, 2020, consisting of 9 HAE experts from the United States and Europe with extensive clinical experience in the treatment of HAE. Consensus statements were developed based on a preliminary literature review and discussions from the consensus meeting.

RESULTS

Final statements reflect the consensus of the expert panel and include the assessment of attack severity, evaluation of disease burden, and long-term clinical management of HAE caused by C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency. Patient-reported outcome measures for assessing HAE attack severity and frequency are available and valuable tools; however, attack frequency and severity are insufficient markers of disease severity unless they are evaluated in the broader context of the effect on an individual patient's QoL. QoL assessments should be individualized for each patient and minimally, they should address the interference of HAE with work, school, social, family, and physical activity, along with access to and burden of HAE treatment. Advances in HAE therapies offer the opportunity for comprehensive, individualized treatment plans, allowing patients to achieve minimal attack burden with reduced disease and treatment burden.

CONCLUSION

This consensus report builds on existing guidelines by expanding the assessment of disease burden and QoL measures for patients with HAE.

Expertenkonsensus zu praxisrelevanten Aspekten bei der Behandlung der chronischen Urtikaria

Hintergrund: Die chronische Urtikaria (CU) ist eine häufige und für viele Patienten stark belastende Erkrankung. Die aktuelle Urtikaria-Leitlinie beschreibt die evidenzbasierte Diagnostik und Therapie der CU. Darüber hinaus treten jedoch oftmals Fragen im praktischen Alltag auf, die durch die Leitlinie nicht beantwortet werden.

Methoden: Im Mai 2020 fand ein digitales Treffen deutscher Urtikaria-Experten statt, in dem praxisrelevante Aspekte der Behandlung der CU erörtert und unterstützende Hilfestellungen für den klinischen Behandlungsalltag formuliert wurden. Die resultierenden Hinweise dieses Dokumentes fokussieren auf praktische Fragen und der hierzu verfügbaren Literatur und Erfahrungen der Teilnehmer.

Ergebnisse: Die Diagnose einer CU kann in kurzer Zeit mittels gründlicher Anamnese, einer körperlichen Untersuchung und einer laborchemischen Basisdiagnostik gestellt werden. Hierzu werden in dieser Arbeit praktische Empfehlungen für den Praxisalltag gegeben. Eine erweiterte Diagnostik ist nur in wenigen Fällen indiziert und sollte grundsätzlich parallel zu einer effektiven Therapie erfolgen. Generell gilt, dass die CU immer auf gleiche Weise zu therapieren ist, unabhängig davon, ob Quaddeln, Angioödeme oder beides auftreten. Eine symptomatische Therapie sollte nach dem von den Leitlinien empfohlenen Stufenschema erfolgen. Die vorliegende Publikation gibt hierzu praktische Hinweise für Fragen in der Praxis, wie zum Beispiel dem Vorgehen in der aktuellen COVID-19-Pandemie, dem kardialen Risiko unter höher dosierten H 1-Antihistaminika, der Selbstapplikation von Omalizumab sowie dem Impfen unter Omalizumab-Therapie. Zusätzlich zu den Behandlungsempfehlungen werden Themen wie die Dokumentation in der Praxis und Familienplanung bei Urtikaria besprochen.

Diskussion: Diese unterstützenden Behandlungsempfehlungen dienen als Ergänzung zu den aktuellen Leitlinien der CU und geben beim Umgang mit Patienten mit CU eine Hilfestellung für den Praxisalltag. Ziel ist es, dass Patienten, die unter einer CU leiden, mithilfe einer optimalen Therapie eine vollständige Beschwerdefreiheit erreichen.

How Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire Can Help Physicians in Treating C1-Inhibitor Deficiency Patients?

The Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL) is an angioedema (AE)-specific validated questionnaire, which surveys the quality of life of diagnosed patients. The questionnaire has been used in multiple clinical trials. Our aim was to investigate how the questionnaire can assist physicians in the everyday practice of following up and managing C1-inhibitor deficiency patients. In a prospective trial conducted in our center between 2016 and 2018, 125 hereditary angioedema and 10 diagnosed with acquired angioedema completed an AE-QoL during their annual follow-up visit. Laboratory indices (i.e., complement levels) were obtained for each patient. Statistical analysis comparing clinical data with QoL parameters was performed. Results of the analysis show that AE-QoL total score and number of AE attacks per year correlated well (r = 0.47; p < 0.0001). Women reached higher AE-QoL total score values than men, over a 3-year period (p = 0.0014). The highest AE-QoL total scores were reached by the 41–60-year age group; we obtained a similar result, when analyzing the four domains. No correlation was found between the AE-QoL total score and complement parameters. Patients with a negative correlation between AE-QoL total score and number of AE attacks had a positive correlation with psychologic attributes like fatigue/mood and fears/shame domains. Patients that acquired HAE showed a significant correlation between the annual number of AE attacks and the AE-QoL total scores (r = 0.46; p < 0.0001). The study establishes the use of AE-QoL as a clinical tool for follow-up which can help in the complex assessment of both hereditary and acquired HAE patients, and help to develop better therapeutic strategies.

New Instrument for the Evaluation of Prodromes and Attacks of Hereditary Angioedema (HAE-EPA)

A disease-specific, patient-reported outcome instrument suitable for evaluation of prodromes and attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a clinical unmet need. We constructed such instrument and examined its validity, acceptability, and discriminative ability. Sixty-six patients participated in a survey addressing their demographics, social, and medical status. Discriminant content validity involved: (1) construct definition by in-depth cognitive debriefing interviews, (2) item selection identifying relevant categories, and (3) judgment of the format whereby questionnaires were tested on experienced patients and its content/reliability was validated. Prodromes and attacks affecting certain body systems (domains) were organized in "clusters". Internal consistency, content, and convergent validities were analyzed. Analyses of variance and regression models were used to evaluate the discriminative ability of the instrument to differentiate between attacks and prodromes. The study demonstrates very high internal consistency (Cronbach's α: attacks 0.88-0.98, prodromes 0.78-0.98). Analysis of variance confirmed significant differences between all dimensions and in pre-defined clusters (F (4, 61) = 45.74, p < 0.001, Eta² = 0.77). Significant correlations were found between dimensions of prodromes and attacks. Prodromes are associated but differentiated from attacks. Correlations in severity were high for all domains. Interactions were found between prodromes and patients' experience in illness. In conclusion, the new Prodrome-Attack Evaluation questionnaire (HAE-EPA) is capable of distinguishing attacks and prodromes of HAE, as well as determining associations between the two interrelated phenomena. The new instrument achieves the required discriminative ability, acceptability, and content validity/reliability and therefore can be used as a reliable tool for the investigation of prodromes, attacks, and their relationships.

Effectiveness of as-needed antihistamines in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients under omalizumab treatment

The question how second-generation antihistamines (sgAHs) should be used when chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is under control with omalizumab is still unanswered. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of as-needed sgAHs in patients with well-controlled urticaria under omalizumab treatment. Patients from four different urticaria centers who were treated with omalizumab 300 mg/4 weeks for at least 3 months, had well-controlled urticaria (Urticaria Control Test: 16 > UCT≥12) and were using sgAHs only if needed, were included in this study. In order to assess effectiveness of sgAHs, change in the itch, hives, and total itch-hives scores before and after sgAHs were evaluated using modified urticaria activity score-twice daily. Fifty-three patients [38 female (71.7%)] with mean age 41.1 ± 11.4 years were included in this study. Median sgAH intake per patient throughout the 4 week-intervals was 3 (2-5) tablets. sgAH intake decreased itch, hives and total itch-hives scores 45.7% ± 52.9, 42.4% ± 39.1, and 50.2% ± 51.1, respectively (P < .001 for all). This decrease was similar in both isolated-urticaria and urticaria-and-angioedema phenotypes. Baseline IgE levels were positively correlated with the decrease of three symptom scores (r = 0.31, P = .05; r = 0.375, P = .017; r = 0.31, P = .05, respectively) that showed in patients with higher baseline total IgE levels, as needed sgAH intake decreased the symptom scores less. Our study showed that sgAHs may still be an effective option for the treatment of the intermittent symptoms in patients with well-controlled urticaria under omalizumab treatment. Baseline total IgE levels may be used as a potential biomarker for sgAH effectiveness in these patients.

The Arabic Urticaria Activity Score and Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire: validation and correlations

BACKGROUND

The international guideline for urticaria recommends the use of the Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7) and the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) to assess patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) for their disease activity and impact on quality of life, respectively. Over the last decade, both tools have been validated in many different languages but not in Arabic.

OBJECTIVE

To validate the Arabic UAS7 and CU-Q2oL in patients with CSU in Lebanon.

METHODS

After a structured translation process of both instruments into Arabic, their construct and known-groups validity as well as internal consistency reliability were tested in a longitudinal prospective study using a cluster sample of 152 Lebanese CSU patients. The study also included a repetitive administration of both instruments in 2-week intervals in 44 patients in order to assess their test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

Both the Arabic UAS7 and CU-Q2oL demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha of 0.95 and 0.82, respectively) and moderate-to-high test-retest reliability (intraclass coefficient of 0.61 and 0.91, respectively). Exploratory factor analysis of the Arabic CU-Q2oL revealed five components that explained 81.8% of the total variance. Significant correlations were found between the Arabic CU-Q2oL and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (r = 0.86) and mild-to-moderate correlations between the Arabic UAS7 and CU-Q2oL (r = 0.52) as well as the DLQI (r = 0.51).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that the Arabic versions of the UAS7 and the CU-Q2oL are valid and reliable patient-reported outcome measures in patients with CSU in Lebanon.

Development of the Angioedema Control Test-A patient-reported outcome measure that assesses disease control in patients with recurrent angioedema

BACKGROUND

Recurrent angioedema (AE) is an important clinical problem in the context of chronic urticaria (mast cell mediator-induced), ACE-inhibitor intake and hereditary angioedema (both bradykinin-mediated). To help patients obtain control of their recurrent AE is a major treatment goal. However, a tool to assess control of recurrent AE is not yet available. This prompted us to develop such a tool, the Angioedema Control Test (AECT).

METHODS

After a conceptional framework was developed for the AECT, a list of potential AECT items was generated by a combined approach of patient interviews, literature review and expert input. Subsequent item reduction was based on impact analysis, inter-item correlation, additional predefined criteria for item performance, and a review of the item selection process for content validity. Finally, an instruction section was generated, and an US-American-English version was developed by a structured translation process.

RESULTS

A 4-item AECT with recall periods of 4 weeks and 3 months was developed based on 106 potential items tested in 97 patients with mast cell mediator-induced (n = 49) or bradykinin-mediated recurrent AE (n = 48). Eighty-four items were excluded based on impact analysis. The remaining 22 items could be further reduced by a method-mix of inter-item correlation, additional predefined criteria for item performance and review for content validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The AECT is the first tool to assess disease control in recurrent AE patients. Its retrospective approach, its brevity and its simple scoring make the AECT ideally suited for clinical practice and trials. Its validity and reliability need to be determined in future independent studies.

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Review of Pathological Mechanisms, Diagnosis, Clinical Management, and Treatment

Urticaria is a poorly understood and underestimated clinical condition characterised by the sudden onset of itchy wheals and/or angioedema, which usually resolve within 24 and 72 hours, respectively. It is generally classified as being acute (lasting <6 weeks) or chronic (continuous or intermittent for ≥6 weeks). Chronic urticaria can be further classified as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria, appearing in response to specific eliciting factors, such as heat, cold, or sun exposure, or following the application of pressure. Scientific advances have been made in the understanding of pathological mechanisms and treatment, especially associated with CSU. The exact pathological mechanism of how urticaria develops is still not yet fully understood, but the clinical implications on the patients’ quality of life are severe and have been associated with mental disorders and metabolic diseases. The diagnosis of urticaria is based on medical history and clinical manifestations. The treatment pathway begins with the administration of second-generation, nonsedating, nonimpairing histamine 1 receptor antihistamines and, in case of nonresponse, with new-generation biological drugs. The current review presents an update of the pathological mechanisms, diagnosis, clinical management, and treatment of CSU. It also focusses on the future implications of new-generation drugs and their effects on the clinical practice.

Urticaria: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum (CIA) Update 2020

This update on chronic urticaria (CU) focuses on the prevalence and pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), the expanding spectrum of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for assessing CU disease activity, impact, and control, as well as future treatment options for CU. This update is needed, as several recently reported findings have led to significant advances in these areas. Some of these key discoveries were first presented at past meetings of the Collegium Internationale Allergologicum (CIA). New evidence shows that the prevalence of CSU is geographically heterogeneous, high in all age groups, and increasing. Several recent reports have helped to better characterize two endotypes of CSU: type I autoimmune (or autoallergic) CSU, driven by IgE to autoallergens, and type IIb autoimmune CSU, which is due to mast cell (MC)-targeted autoantibodies. The aim of treatment in CU is complete disease control with absence of signs and symptoms as well as normalization of quality of life (QoL). This is best monitored by the use of an expanding set of PROMs, to which the Angioedema Control Test, the Cholinergic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Cholinergic Urticaria Activity Score have recently been added. Current treatment approaches for CU under development include drugs that inhibit the effects of signals that drive MC activation and accumulation, drugs that inhibit intracellular pathways of MC activation and degranulation, and drugs that silence MCs by binding to inhibitory receptors. The understanding, knowledge, and management of CU are rapidly increasing. The aim of this review is to provide physicians who treat CU patients with an update on where we stand and where we will go. Many questions and unmet needs remain to be addressed, such as the development of routine diagnostic tests for type I and type IIb autoimmune CSU, the global dissemination and consistent use of PROMs to assess disease activity, impact, and control, and the development of more effective and well-tolerated long-term treatments for all forms of CU.

Angioedema Activity Score (AAS): A Valid and Reliable Tool to Use in Asian Patients

The Angioedema Activity Score (AAS) is recommended by the EAACI/GA²LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines for urticaria as the standard measure for assessing disease activity in patients with recurrent angioedema (RAE). To date, it has been translated into 80 languages for use in 52 countries, but it has not been formally validated in Asian patient populations. As RAE may be different in Asian and non-Asian patients, it is important to validate and characterize the reliability of tools to assess RAE disease activity in Asian patients. This study proposed to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the AAS in Asian patients. Accordingly, this study aimed to generate and validate the Thai version of the AAS and to characterize its reliability in Asian patients, specifically in Thailand. A structured translation was conducted with approval from the original authors. The Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PGA-DA) was used as an instrument to compare with the Thai version of the AAS. In total, 86 patients with RAE participated in the study. Seventy-six (88%) patients had RAE with chronic spontaneous urticaria. The Thai AAS was found to be a valid and reliable instrument, with high convergent and known-groups validities, excellent internal consistency, and good test-retest reliability. The validity and reliability of the AAS for assessing RAE disease activity in Asian patients have been demonstrated by our study, making it the first to do so. This will help promote the use of the AAS, in clinical trials and practice, in Asia. It will also facilitate the comparison of disease activity in patients with RAE inside and outside Asia in future studies. However, a limitation of this study was its small number of patients.

Chronic urticaria - What does the new guideline tell us?

Patients with chronic urticaria experience significant impairment, and require an effective treatment. Such treatment is preceded by a thorough diagnostic workup and measurement of disease activity, disease burden and disease control using well--established tools. Treatment is subsequently adjusted according to patient needs and therapeutic response, based on the tenet "as much as necessary, as little as possible" (in that order). Once disease control has been achieved, it is recommended that intermittent attempts at medication withdrawal be made in order to identify spontaneous disease remission. Chronic urticaria should be treated until spontaneous remission occurs.

Management of chronic urticaria in children: a clinical guideline

The aim of this guidance is to provide recommendations to clinicians and other interested parties on chronic urticaria in children. The Italian Society for Pediatrics (SIP), the Italian Society for Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP), the Italian Society for Pediatric dermatology (SIDerP) convened a multidisciplinary panel that prepared clinical guidelines for diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria in childhood. Key questions on epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, and management were developed. The literature was systematically searched and evaluated, recommendations were rated and algorithms for diagnosis and treatment were developed. The recommendations focus on identification of diseases and comorbidities, strategies to recognize triggering factors, improvement of treatment by individualized care.