Hereditary Angioedema
HAE – A Life-Threatening Disease
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a debilitating, potentially life-threatening genetic disease characterized by recurring attacks of edema (swelling) in various parts of the body, including the upper airways, hands, feet, face, and abdomen. HAE attacks affecting the hands, face, and feet can be disfiguring, whereas abdominal attacks, caused by swelling of the intestinal wall, are marked by severe stomach pain. Attacks that affect the throat can be life-threatening, as swelling can constrict the larynx or enlarge the tongue and can quickly lead to suffocation.Although attacks often occur without a recognizable trigger, among the known conditions that may elicit an attack are trauma and physical or psychological stress. Patients have pinpointed insect bites, specific foods among other causes for their attacks.? Regardless of the cause, however, the symptoms may last from two to five days if left untreated. It has been reported that the escalation period from the onset of symptoms to a full-blown attack ranges from twenty minutes to as long as fourteen hours and that patients experience an average of twelve attacks per year.