Hereditary angioedema - consequences of a new treatment paradigm in Denmark

Acta Derm Venereol. 2014 Jul;94(4):436-41. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1743.

Abstract

Experiences from a Danish patient cohort with hereditary angioedema are reported with focus on home therapy and burden of illness. Eighty patients have been prospectively followed over 11 years, having experienced a total of 7,809 attacks over 469 patient years. More than half of the patients stopped long-term prophylaxis with danazol or tranexamic acid and changed treatment regimen to on-demand treatment with C1 inhibitor concentrate or icatibant. At least 10% of the attacks remained un-treated. More than half of the patients felt that hereditary angioedema had a significant psychological impact on their lives and restricted their physical activities. By December 2012, a total of 39 patients (49%) were practicing home treatment of acute attacks. Home therapy reduced the mean number of acute hospital visits by 84% and significantly improved burden of illness items. In conclusion, home therapy has profoundly improved the lives of hereditary angioedema patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Angioedemas, Hereditary / diagnosis
  • Angioedemas, Hereditary / drug therapy*
  • Angioedemas, Hereditary / psychology
  • Bradykinin / administration & dosage
  • Bradykinin / analogs & derivatives
  • Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein / administration & dosage
  • Cost of Illness
  • Danazol / administration & dosage
  • Denmark
  • Dermatologic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Home Care Services*
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Registries
  • Time Factors
  • Tranexamic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Tranexamic Acid
  • icatibant
  • Danazol
  • Bradykinin