Safety, effectiveness, and impact on quality of life of self-administration with plasma-derived nanofiltered C1 inhibitor (Berinert®) in patients with hereditary angioedema: the SABHA study

Hereditary angioedema prevalence and satisfaction with prophylaxis in South Australia

Background

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to deficiency of C1 Inhibitor (C1INH-HAE) is a rare, unpredictable and potentially fatal genetic disorder. There are relatively few systematic population prevalence studies, with reports from various countries of between 1 in 20,000 and 1 in 150,000. and no Australian data. The therapeutic landscape for HAE has changed dramatically in recent years with a focus on highly effective prophylaxis, with the aim of total suppression of angioedema and achievement of a normal life.

Objectives

Epidemiological survey of HAE in South Australia, with description of patient characteristics, quality of life and treatment, with a focus on prophylaxis.

Methods

Case ascertainment was conducted over 18 months from January 2021 to July 2022, using a range of approaches with the aim of identifying all people with C1INH-HAE in South Australia. Questionnaires were administered to consenting patients utilising established HAE-specific and general survey instruments.

Results

We identified 35 people with HAE in South Australia, yielding a population prevalence of 1 in 52,400, in line with average established international prevalence. HAE was identified in 4 patients of Indigenous Australian heritage. Seventeen of 31 adult patients completed an additional multi-questionnaire survey, revealing overall satisfactory disease control. Most common prophylactic therapies were danazol, lanadelumab, and subcutaneous C1 inhibitor. Many patients (mostly male) with milder disease had responded well to low-dose danazol with good tolerance and have continued to use it, whereas patients with higher disease burden are now using newer therapies, and overall satisfaction with current prophylaxis is high.

Conclusions

Prevalence of HAE in South Australia aligns with international reports. Our population survey indicates that current long-term prophylaxis therapies including danazol, lanadelumab and C1-inhibitor, applied to appropriate patients taking into account disease activity and drug risks and tolerance, are effective for HAE attack prevention and produce high levels of satisfaction.

Recommendations for the Implementation of the Self-Administration of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin

Purpose

Administration of exogenous alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is the only specific therapy for the management of pulmonary morbidity in patients with AAT deficiency. It requires weekly or biweekly intravenous infusions, which may impact patient independence and quality of life. Self-administration of AAT therapy is an alternative to reduce the burden for patients who require AAT therapy. We presented herein experts' recommendations for the implementation of a program for the self-administration of AAT.

Methods

This project was conducted using a modified nominal group technique and was undertaken in two online meetings involving the participation of 25 experts: specialists in pulmonology (n=17), nurses (n=5) and hospital pharmacists (n=3).

Results

The following issues were discussed, and several recommendations were agreed upon on the following topics: a) patient profile and clinical evaluation, establishing selection criteria that should include clinical as well as social criteria; b) role of health care professionals, suggested roles for specialists in pulmonology, nurses, and hospital pharmacists; c) training by the nurse, including recommendations before initiating the training and the content of the training sessions; and d) logistic issues and follow-up, adherence, and patient support.

Conclusion

We expect this proposal to increase awareness of this therapeutic alternative and facilitate the implementation of self-administration programs, thus contributing to optimizing the patient experience with AAT therapy. Further research on the outcomes of these programs, especially from the patient perspective, will also help to improve their design and implementation.

A narrative review of recent literature of the quality of life in hereditary angioedema patients

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder that causes unpredictable and debilitating cutaneous and submucosal edema and can lead to death. HAE can impair patients' ability to perform daily activities, proportional to pain severity, with patients reporting lower productivity, missed time from work or school and potentially resulting in missed career and educational opportunities. Many patients with HAE experience a significant psychological burden, including anxiety and depression. Available treatment aims to prevent and/or treat HAE attacks as they occur, to reduce morbidity and mortality and, finally, to improve health-related quality of life. Two different validated specific angioedema instruments are available to assess patients' quality of life. The Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL) examines diagnosed patients' quality of life but is not specific for HAE. The disease-specific questionnaire is the Hereditary Angioedema Quality of Life (HAE-QoL), and the first used for hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitors (C1-INH) deficiency. These quality-of-life instruments are helpful to the HAE patients' assessment and to the development of better therapeutic strategies as clinical tools, as defined by international guidelines. Considering this context, this review was conducted to compare the effects of acute vs. long-term prophylaxis on HAE patients' health-related quality of life. In addition, the prevalence of anxiety and depression among these individuals was also reviewed.

An investigational oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor for on-demand treatment of hereditary angioedema: a two-part, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend effective on-demand therapy for all individuals with hereditary angioedema. We aimed to assess the novel oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor, sebetralstat, which is in development, for on-demand treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks.

METHODS

In this two-part phase 2 trial, individuals with type 1 or 2 hereditary angioedema aged 18 years or older were recruited from 25 sites, consisting of specialty outpatient centres, across nine countries in Europe and the USA. Individuals were eligible if they had experienced at least three hereditary angioedema attacks in the past 93 days, were not on prophylactic therapy, and had access to and the ability to self-administer conventional attack treatment. In part 1 of the trial, participants were given a single 600 mg open-label oral dose of sebetralstat to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the dose. Part 2 was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-sequence, two-period (2 × 2) crossover trial; participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to either sequence 1, in which they were given a single dose of 600 mg of sebetralstat to treat the first eligible attack and a second dose of placebo to treat the second eligible attack, or sequence 2, in which they were given placebo to treat the first eligible attack and then 600 mg of sebetralstat to treat the second eligible attack. Participants and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was time to use of conventional attack treatment within 12 h of study drug administration, which was assessed in all participants who were randomly assigned to treatment and who received study drug for two attacks during part 2 of the study. Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of study drug, starting in part 1. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04208412, and is completed.

FINDINGS

Between July 2, 2019, and Dec 8, 2020, 84 individuals were screened and 68 were enrolled in part 1 and received sebetralstat (mean age 38·3 years [SD 13·2], 37 [54%] were female, 31 [46%] were male, 68 [100%] were White). 42 (62%) of 68 participants completed pharmacokinetic assessments. Sebetralstat was rapidly absorbed, with a geometric mean plasma concentration of 501 ng/mL at 15 min. In a subset of participants (n=6), plasma samples obtained from 15 min to 4 h after study drug administration had near-complete protection from ex vivo stimulated generation of plasma kallikrein and cleavage of high-molecular-weight kininogen. In part 2, all 68 participants were randomly assigned to sequence 1 (n=34) or sequence 2 (n=34). 53 (78%) of 68 participants treated two attacks (25 [74%] in the sequence 1 group and 28 [82%] in the sequence 2 group). Time to use of conventional treatment within 12 h of study drug administration was significantly longer with sebetralstat versus placebo (at quartile 1: >12 h [95% CI 9·6 to >12] vs 8·0 h [3·8 to >12]; p=0·0010). There were no serious adverse events or adverse event-related discontinuations.

INTERPRETATION

Oral administration of sebetralstat was well tolerated and led to rapid suppression of plasma kallikrein activity, resulting in increased time to use of conventional attack treatment and faster symptom relief versus placebo. Based on these results, a phase 3 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two dose levels of sebetralstat in adolescent and adult participants with hereditary angioedema has been initiated (NCT05259917).

FUNDING

KalVista Pharmaceuticals.

Hereditary Angioedema During Pregnancy: Considerations in Management

In recent years, hereditary angioedema (HAE) management has substantially advanced but also become more complex with additional therapeutic options. Pregnancy significantly influences the clinical symptoms of HAE in many women because of estrogen effects or other physiologic factors, and also introduces important safety concerns related to HAE medications. Management of HAE during pregnancy requires clinicians to be familiar with the potential clinical course, triggers, and recommended treatment strategies to provide guidance and optimal medical management to women and families affected by the condition. This review provides an overview of data, considerations, and recommendations related to HAE and pregnancy.

Psychometric study of the SF-36v2 in hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE)

BACKGROUND

The generic 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36v2) has been used to assess health related quality of life in adult patients with hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) even though it has not yet been validated for use in this specific disease.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to validate the SF-36v2 for use in adult patients with C1-INH-HAE.

RESULTS

There was a very low item non-response rate (1-3.4%), with a high ceiling effect in 25/35 items and a low floor effect in 3/35 items. A moderate ceiling effect was observed in 5/8 dimensions of the SF-36v2, whereas no floor effect was noticed in any of the dimensions. Internal consistency was good to excellent with Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranging between 0.82 and 0.93 for the different dimensions. Construct validity was good: seven out of the 8 hypotheses defined on clinical criteria were confirmed, discriminant validity assessment showed significant differences among patients with different C1-INH-HAE severity, convergent validity showed a good correlation among the physical and mental component summaries of the SF-36v2 and the HAE-QoL total score (0.45 and 0.64 respectively, P < 0.001). Test-retest reliability was high with intraclass correlation coefficient varying from 0.758 to 0.962. The minimal clinically important difference was calculated by distribution methods and small differences in the domain scores and in the component summaries scores were shown to be meaningful.  CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of the SF-36v2 show it can be a useful tool to assess HRQoL in adult patients with C1-INH-HAE, although with some content validity limitation.

METHODS

The psychometric properties of the SF-36v2 were evaluated in an international setting based on responses from 290 adult C1-INH-HAE patients in 11 countries.

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? 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.

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.

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Therapy in Patients with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Perspectives from a Registry Study and Practical Considerations for Self-Administration During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a hereditary condition characterized by low serum Alpha 1 Antitrypsin (AAT) levels and a predisposition towards early-onset emphysema. Infusion of AAT is the only disease-modifying therapy that can sufficiently raise plasma AAT levels above the putative protective threshold and reduce the decline in lung density loss. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and registry studies support the clinical efficacy of AAT therapy in slowing the progression of AATD-related emphysema and improving survival outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted physicians to develop additional strategies for delivering AAT therapy, which are not only more convenient for the patient, but are “COVID-19 friendly”, thereby reducing the risk of exposing these vulnerable patients. Intravenous (IV) self-administration of AAT therapy is likely to be beneficial in certain subgroups of patients with AATD and can remove the need for weekly hospital visits, thereby improving independence and well-being. Increasing the awareness of self-administration in AATD through the development of formal guidelines and training programs is required among both physicians and patients and will play an essential role, especially post-COVID-19, in encouraging physicians to consider self-administration for AATD in suitable patients. This review summarizes the benefits of AAT therapy on the clinical endpoints of mortality and quality of life (QoL) and discusses the benefits of self-administration therapy compared with conventional therapy administered by a healthcare professional. In addition, this review highlights the challenges of providing AAT therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential considerations for its implementation thereafter.

How to Measure Disease Activity, Impact, and Control in Patients with Recurrent Wheals, Angioedema, or Both

Chronic spontaneous urticaria and chronic inducible urticaria are characterized by wheals, angioedema, or both, whereas other conditions such as hereditary angioedema present only with angioedema. The unpredictability of outbreaks, disfigurement, pruritus, and associated sleep and work disturbance can cause a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). Significant breakthroughs in the understanding of these conditions in recent years have led to the development of novel therapies. Assessment of patients with these conditions not only focuses on the clinical activity of the condition, but also on the impact on QoL and disease control with treatment. Patient-reported outcome measures, especially if sufficiently validated, give due prominence to the patient's perspective regarding disease impact and treatment outcomes. This article will review the tools readily available to assess activity, impact, and control in patients with recurrent wheals, angioedema, or both.

Angioedema with severe acute abdominal pain: Think of hereditary angioedema

Angioedema can be either mast cell-(histamine-)mediated or bradykinin-mediated. Treatment approaches for the two types are very different, making differential diagnosis critical. Severe acute abdominal pain caused by intestinal angioedema is commonly misdiagnosed, especially when associated with bradykinin-mediated angioedema. After describing a typical clinical scenario and diagnostic journey of a patient with recurrent, undiagnosed abdominal pain due to hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare variant of bradykinin-mediated angioedema, we delve into the classification and differential diagnosis of the various types of angioedema and provide an overview of appropriate management with an emphasis on the bradykinin-mediated types. Bradykinin-induced angioedema may be inherited or acquired and is infrequent compared to mast cell-mediated angioedema. HAE is a rare disease characterized by recurrent attacks of non-urticarial, nonpruritic edema usually affecting the face, respiratory tract, extremities, gastrointestinal tract, and genitalia. Unlike mast cell-mediated angioedema, painful abdominal symptoms are prevalent in bradykinin-mediated angioedema and are sometimes the only manifestation of an attack, increasing the likelihood of initial misdiagnosis as appendicitis or other forms of acute abdomen. It is important for gastroenterologists to be vigilant for the possibility of angioedema pathology in patients presenting with undiagnosed, recurrent, abdominal symptoms to facilitate accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Icatibant promotes patients' behavior modification associated with emergency room visits during an acute attack of hereditary angioedema

Hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency (HAE-C1-INH) induces an acute attack of angioedema. In 2018, icatibant available for self-possession and subcutaneous self-administration was licensed for on-demand treatment in addition to intravenous C1-INH administration in Japan. We retrospectively evaluated the percentage of attacks in critical parts at emergency room (ER) visits and the time until visiting ER for C1-INH administration before and after the initial prescription of icatibant. The percentage of attacks in critical parts at ER visits before the prescription was 69.2%, but that was 80.0% when patients visited ER for additional C1-INH administration after the self-administration of icatibant. The time from the onset of an acute attack to visiting ER for the additional treatment after the self-administration of icatibant significantly increased from 6.2 h to 19.2 h (p < 0.001). Icatibant, therefore, promoted the patients' behavior modification associated with ER visits for C1-INH administration during an acute attack of HAE-C1-INH.

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.

Impact of lanadelumab on health-related quality of life in patients with hereditary angioedema in the HELP study

Background

An objective of the phase 3 HELP Study was to investigate the effect of lanadelumab on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE).

Methods

Patients with HAE‐1/2 received either lanadelumab 150 mg every 4 weeks (q4wks; n = 28), 300 mg q4wks (n = 29), 300 mg every 2 weeks (q2wks; n = 27), or placebo (n = 41) for 26 weeks (days 0–182). The Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE‐QoL) was administered monthly, consisting of four domain (functioning, fatigue/mood, fears/shame, nutrition) and total scores. The generic EQ‐5D‐5L questionnaire was administered on days 0, 98, and 182. Comparisons were made between placebo and (a) all lanadelumab‐treated patients and (b) individual lanadelumab groups for changes in scores (day 0–182) and proportions achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID, −6) in AE‐QoL total score.

Results

Compared with the placebo group, the lanadelumab total group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in AE‐QoL total and domain scores (mean change, −13.0 to −29.3; p < 0.05 for all); the largest improvement was in functioning. A significantly greater proportion of the lanadelumab total group achieved the MCID (70% vs 37%; p = 0.001). The lanadelumab 300 mg q2wks group had the highest proportion (81%; p = 0.001) and was 7.2 times more likely to achieve the MCID than the placebo group. Mean EQ‐5D‐5L scores at day 0 were high in all groups, indicating low impairment, with no significant changes at day 182.

Conclusion

Patients with HAE‐1/2 experienced significant and clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL measured by AE‐QoL following lanadelumab treatment in the HELP Study.

Long-term health-related quality of life in patients treated with subcutaneous C1-inhibitor replacement therapy for the prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks: findings from the COMPACT open-label extension study

Background

Long-term prophylaxis with subcutaneous C1-inhibitor (C1-INH[SC]; HAEGARDA, CSL Behring) in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to C1-INH deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) was evaluated in an open-label extension follow-up study to the international, double-blind, placebo-controlled COMPACT study. The current analysis evaluated patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data from 126 patients in the open-label extension study randomized to treatment with C1-INH(SC) 40 IU/kg (n = 63) or 60 IU/kg (n = 63) twice weekly for 52 weeks. HRQoL was evaluated at the beginning of the open-label study and at various time points using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), and the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication. The disease-specific Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL) and HAE quality of life questionnaire (HAE-QoL) instruments were administered in a subset of patients. Statistical significance was determined by change-from-baseline 95% confidence intervals (CIs) excluding zero. No adjustment for multiplicity was done.

Results

Mean baseline EQ-5D scores (Health State Value, 0.90; Visual Analog Scale, 81.32) were slightly higher (better) than United States population norms (0.825, 80.0, respectively) and mean HADS anxiety (5.48) and depression (2.88) scores were within “normal” range (0–7). Yet, patients using C1-INH(SC) 60 IU/kg demonstrated significant improvement from baseline to end-of-study on the EQ-5D Health State Value (mean change [95% CI], 0.07 [0.01, 0.12] and Visual Analog Scale (7.45 [3.29, 11.62]). In the C1-INH(SC) 60 IU/kg group, there were significant improvements in the HADS anxiety scale (mean change [95% CI], − 1.23 [− 2.08, − 0.38]), HADS depression scale (− 0.95 [− 1.57, − 0.34]), and WPAI-assessed presenteeism (mean change [95% CI], − 23.33% [− 34.86, − 11.81]), work productivity loss (− 26.68% [− 39.92, − 13.44]), and activity impairment (− 16.14% [− 26.36, − 5.91]). Clinically important improvements were achieved in ≥ 25% of patients for all domains except WPAI-assessed absenteeism (which was very low at baseline). Mean AE-QoL total score by visit ranged from 13.39 to 17.89 (scale 0–100; lower scores = less impairment). Mean HAE-QoL global scores at each visit (115.7–122.3) were close to the maximum (best) possible score of 135.

Conclusions

Long-term C1-INH(SC) replacement therapy in patients with C1-INH-HAE leads to significant and sustained improvements in multiple measures of HRQoL.

Trial registration A Study to Evaluate the Long-term Clinical Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneously Administered C1-esterase Inhibitor in the Prevention of Hereditary Angioedema, NCT02316353. Registered December 12, 2014, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02316353.

Immunological Basis of the Endometriosis: The Complement System as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Endometriosis (EM) is a chronic disease characterized by the presence and proliferation of functional endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Ovaries and pelvic peritoneum are the most common locations for endometrial ectopic tissue, followed by deep infiltrating EM sites. The cyclic and recurrent bleeding, the progressive fibrosis and the peritoneal adhesions of ectopic endometrial glands, may cause different symptoms depending on the origin involved. EM is a frequent clinical condition affecting around 10% of women of mainly reproductive age, as well as in post-menopausal women and adolescents, especially with uterine anomalies. The risk of developing EM depends on a complex interaction between genetic, immunological, hormonal, and environmental factors. It is largely considered to arise due to a dysfunction of immunological surveillance. In fact, women with EM exhibit altered functions of peritoneal macrophages, lymphocytes and natural killer cells, as well as levels of inflammatory mediators and growth factors in the peritoneal fluid. In EM patients, peritoneal macrophages are preponderant and highly active compared to healthy women. Peritoneal macrophages are able to regulate the events that determine the production of cytokines, prostaglandins, growth factors and complement components. Several studies have shown alteration in the regulation of the complement activation, leading to chronic inflammation characteristic of EM. Aberrant regulation/activation of the complement system has been observed in the peritoneal cavity of women affected by EM. Thus, complement inhibition may represent a new approach for the treatment of EM, given that a number of complement inhibitors are under pre-clinical and clinical development. Such an intervention may provide a broader therapeutic control of complement-mediated inflammatory damage in EM patients. This review will focus on our current understanding of the role of complement activation in EM and possible modalities available for complement-based therapy.

Improving the Lives of Patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a rare genetic condition that predisposes patients to lung and liver disease and is often underdiagnosed due to incomplete diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Improvements in physician awareness have been made, but better strategies for both diagnosis and management are still required. The only current disease-modifying therapy for AATD is the infusion of the missing Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) protein, which can slow progression of emphysema. However, AAT treatment can impact patient freedom and quality of life due to the need for weekly intravenous infusions. A symposium was held to discuss patient-centric aspects of care that have impact on the lives of patients with AATD, including exacerbations of their lung disease, self-administration of intravenous AAT therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation. Intravenous self-infusion of drugs is an established treatment strategy for patients with a variety of conditions and can improve patient quality of life, freedom and mental well-being. Experience from these areas show that patients typically manage their treatment well and without complications. When applied to AATD, training patients to self-infuse therapy can be successful, but formal guidelines would be beneficial. In addition to pharmacological intervention, individualized pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise and educational programs can encourage health-enhancing patient behavior and further improve patient quality of life. However, differences in skeletal muscle adaptations to pulmonary rehabilitation exercise regimens have been observed between patients with AATD and non-AATD COPD, highlighting the need to develop training programs specifically designed for patients with AATD.

US HAEA Medical Advisory Board 2020 Guidelines for the Management of Hereditary Angioedema

Scientific and clinical progress together with the development of effective novel therapeutic options has engendered multiple important changes in the diagnosis and management of hereditary angioedema (HAE). We now update and extend the 2013 United States Hereditary Angioedema Association Medical Advisory Board guidelines for the treatment and management of HAE. The guidelines are based on a comprehensive literature review with recommendations indicating both the strength of our recommendation and the quality of the underlying evidence. Guidelines are provided regarding the classification, diagnosis, on-demand treatment, prophylactic treatment, special considerations for women and children, development of a comprehensive management and monitoring plan, and assessment of burden of illness for both HAE due to C1 inhibitor deficiency and HAE with normal C1 inhibitor. Advances in HAE treatment now allow the development of management plans that can help many patients with HAE lead a normal life. Achieving this goal requires that physicians be familiar with the diagnostic and therapeutic transformations that have occurred in recent years.

The International/Canadian Hereditary Angioedema Guideline

This is an update to the 2014 Canadian Hereditary Angioedema Guideline with an expanded scope to include the management of hereditary angioedema (HAE) patients worldwide. It is a collaboration of Canadian and international HAE experts and patient groups led by the Canadian Hereditary Angioedema Network. The objective of this guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations, using the GRADE system, for the management of patients with HAE. This includes the treatment of attacks, short-term prophylaxis, long-term prophylaxis, and recommendations for self-administration, individualized therapy, quality of life, and comprehensive care. New to the 2019 version of this guideline are sections covering the diagnosis and recommended therapies for acute treatment in HAE patients with normal C1-INH, as well as sections on pregnant and paediatric patients, patient associations and an HAE registry. Hereditary angioedema results in random and often unpredictable attacks of painful swelling typically affecting the extremities, bowel mucosa, genitals, face and upper airway. Attacks are associated with significant functional impairment, decreased health-related quality of life, and mortality in the case of laryngeal attacks. Caring for patients with HAE can be challenging due to the complexity of this disease. The care of patients with HAE in Canada, as in many countries, continues to be neither optimal nor uniform. It lags behind some other countries where there are more organized models for HAE management, and greater availability of additional licensed therapeutic options. It is anticipated that providing this guideline to caregivers, policy makers, patients, and advocates will not only optimize the management of HAE, but also promote the importance of individualized care. The primary target users of this guideline are healthcare providers who are managing patients with HAE. Other healthcare providers who may use this guideline are emergency and intensive care physicians, primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, dentists, otolaryngologists, paediatricians, and gynaecologists who will encounter patients with HAE and need to be aware of this condition. Hospital administrators, insurers and policy makers may also find this guideline helpful.

Successful Long-Term Prophylactic Treatment With Subcutaneous C1 Esterase Inhibitor in a Patient With Hereditary Angioedema

BACKGROUND

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) patients suffer from recurrent swellings. Current standard therapy consists of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) and bradykinin receptor B2 antagonists. Severe courses require prophylactic treatment. For such patients, it has been demonstrated that the intravenous (IV) administration of C1-INH [C1-INH(IV)] is safe and effective. A new prophylactic option is subcutaneous (SC) treatment with C1-INH.

METHODS AND CASE

We present the case of an HAE patient placed on prophylactic C1-INH(IV) therapy due to frequent attacks when managed with on-demand therapy. An implanted port allowed the periodical and safe application of medication until the device was explanted due to an infection. Due to the poor venous access, repeated IV application failed. Therefore, we began a SC treatment with 1500 IU C1-INH [C1-INH(SC)] as long-term prophylaxis and analyzed the clinical course over 16 months.

RESULTS

Under the SC prophylaxis, the number of attacks were reduced to 1/month in comparison to 4.33/month with no prophylactic treatment and 1.83/month with C1-INH(IV). No severe attacks and no attack within the upper airway occurred over the 16 months of C1-INH(SC) treatment. As a result, quality of life improved, as measured by the Angioedema quality of life questionaire (AE-QoL).

CONCLUSION

Self-administered SC prophylactic use of C1-INH over a period of 16 months seems to be a well tolerated and efficient. The patient's quality of life improved, and by learning self-application, the patient gained independence.