Hereditary Angioedema in Swedish Adults: Report From the National Cohort

Acta Derm Venereol. 2016 May;96(4):540-5. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2274.

Abstract

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is rare, disabling and sometimes life-threatening. The aim of this study is to describe its prevalence, symptomatology and treatment in Sweden. A total of 146 patients were identified; 110 adults and 36 children with HAE type I (n = 136) or II (n = 10), giving a minimal HAE prevalence of 1.54/100,000. All patients received a written questionnaire followed by a structured telephone interview. This report focuses on the 102 adults who responded. Females reported 19 attacks in the previous year vs. 9 for males (p < 0.01), and females reported 10 days of sick leave vs. 4 days for males (p < 0.05). For all treated acute attacks, plasma-derived C1-inhibitor concentrate (pdC1INH) (used in 27% of patients) had a good effect. For maintenance treatment, 43% used attenuated androgens and 8% used pdC1INH, which reduced their attack rate by more than 50%. In conclusion, the minimal HAE prevalence in Sweden was 1.54/100,000. HAE affected females more severely. Attenuated androgens and pdC1INH had a good effect on preventing attacks.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Androgens / therapeutic use
  • Angioedemas, Hereditary* / diagnosis
  • Angioedemas, Hereditary* / drug therapy
  • Angioedemas, Hereditary* / epidemiology
  • Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein
  • Complement Inactivating Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Registries
  • Remission Induction
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sick Leave
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Androgens
  • Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins
  • Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein
  • Complement Inactivating Agents
  • SERPING1 protein, human