Abdominal attacks and treatment in hereditary angioedema with C1-inhibitor deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by unpredictable attacks of debilitating subcutaneous and mucosal edema. Gastrointestinal attacks are painful, of sudden onset and often mistaken for acute abdomen leading to unnecessary surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyze symptom presentation of gastrointestinal angioedema in pediatric and adult HAE patients. METHODS: Information collected during the clinical development of ecallantide for treatment of acute HAE attacks included affected anatomic location, accompanying symptoms, medical history, and pain assessments. Efficacy endpoints included Treatment Outcome Score (TOS, maximum score = 100; minimally important difference = 30), a point-in-time measure of treatment response, and time to treatment response. RESULTS: Forty-nine percent of 521 HAE attacks only involved abdominal symptoms. The most commonly reported abdominal symptoms were distension (77%), cramping (73%) and nausea (67%). The most common pain descriptors were tender, tiring-exhausting, aching, cramping and sickening. White blood cell counts were elevated (>10 × 10(9)/L) in 23% of attacks (mean ± SD: 15.1 ± 11.27 × 10(9)/L). A high proportion of patients reported a history of abdominal surgery, including appendectomy (23%), cholecystectomy (16.4%), and hysterectomy (8.2%). Mean TOS at 4 hours post ecallantide was 77 ± 33 versus 29 ± 65 for placebo. Median time to significant symptom resolution was 165 minutes (95% CI 136, 167) for ecallantide versus >4 hours (95% CI 161, >4 hours) for placebo. Anaphylactic reactions occurred in 6 of the 149 treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: HAE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with recurrent discrete episodes of severe, unexplained crampy abdominal pain associated with nausea. TRIALS REGISTRATION: The data used in the analysis were gathered across multiple clinical trials conducted during the clinical development program for ecallantide. All of the studies were conducted using Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and in accordance with the ethical principles that have their origins in the Declaration of Helsinki. Each site that participated in the clinical trials obtained the appropriate IRB or Ethics Committee approval prior to enrolling any patients. All patients provided written informed consent prior to undergoing any study-related procedures. Pediatric patients provided written assent and their parents or guardians gave written informed consent.The following trials have been registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov: EDEMA2 (identifier NCT01826916); EDEMA3 (identifier NCT00262080); EDEMA4 (identifier NCT00457015); and DX-88/19 (identifier NCT00456508).

Ecallantide for the treatment of acute attacks in hereditary angioedema.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema is a rare genetic disorder characterized by acute, intermittent, and potentially life-threatening attacks of edema of the skin and mucosa. We evaluated ecallantide, a newly developed recombinant plasma kallikrein inhibitor, for the treatment of acute attacks of angioedema. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with hereditary angioedema presenting with an acute attack were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive subcutaneous ecallantide, at a dose of 30 mg, or placebo. Two measures of patient-reported outcomes were used to assess the response: treatment outcome scores, which range from +100 (designated in the protocol as significant improvement in symptoms) to -100 (significant worsening of symptoms), and the change from baseline in the mean symptom complex severity score, which range from +2 (representing a change from mild symptoms at baseline to severe symptoms after) to -3 (representing a change from severe symptoms at baseline to no symptoms after). The primary end point was the treatment outcome score 4 hours after study-drug administration. Secondary end points included the change from baseline in the mean symptom complex severity score at 4 hours and the time to significant improvement. RESULTS: A total of 71 of the 72 patients completed the trial. The median treatment outcome score at 4 hours was 50.0 in the ecallantide group and 0.0 in the placebo group (interquartile range [IQR], 0.0 to 100.0 in both groups; P=0.004). The median change in the mean symptom complex severity score at 4 hours was -1.00 (IQR, -1.50 to 0.00) with ecallantide, versus -0.50 (IQR, -1.00 to 0.00) with placebo (P=0.01). The estimated time to significant improvement was 165 minutes with ecallantide versus more than 240 minutes with placebo (P=0.14). There were no deaths, treatment-related serious adverse events, or withdrawals owing to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Four hours after administration of ecallantide or placebo for acute attacks of angioedema in patients with hereditary angioedema, patient-reported treatment outcome scores and mean symptom complex severity scores were significantly better with ecallantide than with placebo. (Funded by Dyax; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00262080.)

Outcomes after ecallantide treatment of laryngeal hereditary angioedema attacks.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder associated with episodic attacks of well-demarcated angioedema. Attacks that affect the larynx can result in life-threatening airway obstruction. OBJECTIVES: To examine efficacy and safety of ecallantide treatment for laryngeal HAE attacks. METHODS: Data were combined from 4 clinical studies (EDEMA2, EDEMA3, EDEMA4, and DX-88/19) evaluating 30 mg of subcutaneous ecallantide for treatment of acute HAE attacks. Efficacy was assessed using 2 validated, HAE-specific, patient-reported outcome measures. The change in Mean Symptom Complex Severity (MSCS) score indicates change in symptom severity; a negative score indicates improvement. The calculated minimally important difference (MID) for change in severity is -0.30. The Treatment Outcome Score (TOS) measures treatment response. A positive score indicates improvement; the calculated MID is 30. RESULTS: Overall, 98 patients received ecallantide for 220 laryngeal attacks. The mean ± SD change in MSCS score was -1.1 ± 0.73 and -1.6 ± 0.68 at 4 and 24 hours, respectively. The mean ± SD TOS was 73.5 ± 35.8 and 85.5 ± 27.8 at 4 and 24 hours, respectively. Median time to significant improvement was 185 minutes (95% confidence interval, 167-226). One attack required intubation. Four treatment-emergent serious adverse events were reported, including 2 HAE attacks that resulted in hospitalization and 2 anaphylactic reactions. One of these reactions required treatment with epinephrine, but both patients recovered fully. There were no deaths. CONCLUSION: In this large attack series, ecallantide was effective for treatment of laryngeal HAE attacks. There is a risk of hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, consistent with product labeling. As such, ecallantide should be administered under the supervision of a health care professional. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifiers: not applicable for EDEMA2 (trial was conducted before implementation of registration requirements); NCT00262080 for EDEMA3, NCT00457015 for EDEMA4, and NCT00456508 for DX-88/19.

Ecallantide (DX-88) for acute hereditary angioedema attacks: integrated analysis of 2 double-blind, phase 3 studies.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent angioedema attacks. Ecallantide, a novel plasma kallikrein inhibitor, inhibits production of bradykinin, the key mediator of these angioedema attacks. OBJECTIVE: We sought to further characterize the safety and efficacy of ecallantide for HAE attacks by performing an integrated analysis of pooled data from 2 phase 3 studies. METHODS: An integrated analysis was conducted with data from 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in which patients with HAE (age ≥10 years) received 30 mg of subcutaneous ecallantide or placebo within 8 hours of onset of a moderate-to-severe attack at any anatomic site. Efficacy was evaluated by using validated patient-reported outcome measures: the Mean Symptom Complex Severity (MSCS) score and the Treatment Outcome Score (TOS). RESULTS: Compared with placebo, ecallantide resulted in significantly greater reduction in MSCS scores from baseline to 4 hours after dosing (ecallantide [mean ± SD], -0.97 ± 0.78; placebo, -0.47 ± 0.71; P < .001) and a significantly greater increase in TOSs at 4 hours (ecallantide, 55.5 ± 46.5; placebo, 20.0 ± 58.9; P < .001). Significantly greater symptomatic improvement over placebo occurred through 24 hours after dosing (MSCS score, P = .028; TOS, P = .039). Ecallantide demonstrated efficacy at all attack sites. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This integrated analysis supports and expands on the results of the phase 3 studies. Ecallantide appears to be effective and well tolerated for the treatment of HAE attacks.

The diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis practice parameter: 2010 update.

These parameters were developed by the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, representing the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI); the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI); and the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The AAAAI and the ACAAI have jointly accepted responsibility for establishing "The Diagnosis and Management of Anaphylaxis Practice Parameter: 2010 Update." This is a complete and comprehensive document at the current time. The medical environment is a changing environment, and not all recommendations will be appropriate for all patients. Because this document incorporated the efforts of many participants, no single individual, including those who served on the Joint Task Force, is authorized to provide an official AAAAI or ACAAI interpretation of these practice parameters. Any request for information about or an interpretation of these practice parameters by the AAAAI or ACAAI should be directed to the Executive Offices of the AAAAI, the ACAAI, or the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. These parameters are not designed for use by pharmaceutical companies in drug promotion.

Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of ecallantide for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by unpredictable, episodic, incapacitating attacks of well-demarcated angioedema in the absence of urticaria and pruritus. HAE is due to deficient or dysfunctional C1-esterase inhibitor activity, which results in unopposed activation of plasma kallikrein, resulting in increased levels of bradykinin. Ecallantide is a potent and specific plasma kallikrein inhibitor approved for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE affecting any anatomic site. In Phase III clinical trials, subcutaneously administered ecallantide demonstrated significant, rapid and durable symptom relief. Ecallantide was effective for all attack types, including potentially life-threatening laryngeal attacks. The main safety concern is potentially serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. Ecallantide represents an important treatment option for the management of acute attacks of HAE.

The spectrum of chronic angioedema.

This article focuses specifically on angioedema. Chronic angioedema represents a wide range of diseases and can be categorized into several forms including hereditary, acquired, drug induced, and idiopathic. Hereditary and acquired angioedema are known to be a result of abnormalities in C1 inhibitor protein while the mechanism of drug-induced and idiopathic angioedema is less clear. Significant advances have been made in recent years with regard to diagnosis and management of these patients leading to a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality. Several novel therapies are in clinical trials and should be available in the United States within the next year. There is still a lot to learn about the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with chronic angioedema. This review will hopefully provide more information to the readers who care for patients with these disorders and also stimulate further interest and research into the pathophysiology of these conditions.

Hereditary angioedema: a current state-of-the-art review, V: attenuated androgens for the treatment of hereditary angioedema.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a summary of the literature regarding the use of attenuated androgens during the past 40 to 50 years for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE). DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE and PubMed were searched to identify studies involving the treatment of HAE with androgens. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were selected based on their relevance to the use of androgens for the treatment of HAE. RESULTS: Attenuated androgens have proven successful for the short- and long-term treatment of HAE. Adverse effects are still concerning, and their use in children and pregnant women must be undertaken with great caution. Scheduled monitoring of liver function tests and lipid profiles in patients treated with these medications is critical. CONCLUSIONS: Attenuated androgens have been successful in the short- and long-term treatment of HAE, and they are still the most frequently used medications in the United States for the treatment of this disease. There is a lack of readily available options for the treatment of acute HAE attacks apart from the administration of fresh frozen plasma or safe prophylactic therapies; however, several appropriate agents currently in clinical trials in the United States appear promising.

Hereditary angioedema: Safety of long-term stanozolol therapy.

BACKGROUND: Attenuated androgens control attacks of hereditary angioedema. Short-term studies of such patients treated at our institution with attenuated androgens demonstrated no adverse effects. However, the side-effect frequencies in patients receiving long-term treatment are relatively less well characterized. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequencies of various side effects of the attenuated androgen stanozolol in a population of patients with hereditary angioedema treated for 20 to 40 years. METHODS: Data on side effects in patients who continued stanozolol therapy since 1987 were obtained by means of questionnaire. Patients were evaluated by physical examination; biochemical assays of hepatic function, serum lipids, and prostate specific antigen; and liver ultrasound. RESULTS: The minimal initial effective dosage of stanozolol was 0.5 to 2.0 mg daily, although most patients achieved symptomatic control and decreased the dose and frequency as the frequency of attacks decreased. Treatment-related symptoms developed in 10 of 21 patients. No interruption in stanozolol therapy was required because symptoms subsided with a reduction in the stanozolol dosage. Adverse side effects included hirsutism, weight gain, menstrual irregularities or postmenopausal bleeding, acne, and mood changes. Liver enzyme assays revealed no persistent abnormalities. Liver ultrasounds in 8 patients revealed 3 abnormalities deemed unrelated to therapy. Five patients had a reduced high-density lipoprotein, and 2 patients had elevated triglycerides. CONCLUSION: Stanozolol is a safe and effective drug for the long-term management of hereditary angioedema. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Stanozolol may be used in the long-term treatment of patients with hereditary angioedema provided such patients are closely supervised with routine clinical, biochemical, and radiologic assessments.

Safety and tolerability of inhaled budesonide in children in the Steroid Treatment As Regular Therapy in early asthma (START) trial.

The safety and tolerability of asthma medications are still a concern to many asthma patients receiving long-term treatment. Therefore, more safety data from long-term, controlled trials are needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of long-term treatment with once-daily budesonide in children aged 5-10 yrs with mild persistent asthma of recent onset in the inhaled Steroid Treatment As Regular Therapy in early asthma (START) study. Children aged 5-10 yrs with early asthma were randomized to double-blind treatment with budesonide 200 microg or placebo once daily via Turbuhaler in addition to usual asthma therapy, for 3 yrs. Adverse events were recorded from both spontaneous reports and responses to standard questions, and asthma-related events and asthma control were recorded between visits and subsequently graded by the blinded investigators. Of the study population of 1981 children (1004 budesonide and 977 usual care), 81% (812 of 1004) in the budesonide group and 82% (797 of 977) in the usual care group experienced a total of 6414 events listed by preferred term (3209 budesonide plus usual care and 3205 placebo plus usual care). The most commonly reported events included respiratory infection, pharyngitis, rhinitis, viral infection and bronchitis, and there were no clinically relevant differences in incidence between treatments. There were no reports of tuberculosis or aspergillosis, and no evidence of increased risk of systemic or ocular adverse events with budesonide relative to placebo. There were 106 serious adverse events in the budesonide group and 128 with usual care. The most frequent, aggravated asthma, was more common with usual care than with budesonide. There were no deaths among children participating in START. In conclusion, the addition of once-daily inhaled budesonide 200 microg via Turbuhaler to usual care is safe and well tolerated in children with recent-onset mild persistent asthma.

Long-term safety of once-daily budesonide in patients with early-onset mild persistent asthma: results of the Inhaled Steroid Treatment as Regular Therapy in Early Asthma (START) study.

BACKGROUND: The Inhaled Steroid Treatment as Regular Therapy in Early Asthma (START) study is a worldwide, randomized, prospective study to investigate early intervention with inhaled corticosteroids in recent-onset mild persistent asthma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of long-term treatment with once-daily budesonide therapy in patients with mild persistent asthma. METHODS: Patients aged 5 to 66 years with mild persistent asthma for fewer than 2 years and no previous regular corticosteroid treatment received budesonide or placebo once daily for 3 years, in addition to their usual asthma therapy. The daily budesonide dose was 200 microg for children younger than 11 years and 400 microg for those 11 years or older. RESULTS: Overall, 7,221 patients were included in the safety analysis, and a total of 21,520 adverse events were reported (10,850 in the budesonide group and 10,670 in the placebo group). The most commonly reported events included respiratory infections, rhinitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, viral infections, and sinusitis. The number of deaths and serious adverse events were similar for children and adults in both treatment groups. Fewer asthma-related serious adverse events were reported with budesonide (162) compared with placebo (276). Oral candidiasis was reported more frequently with budesonide (1.2%) than with placebo (0.5%); the frequencies of other adverse effects previously reported to be associated with inhaled corticosteroids (psychiatric disorders, skin disorders, and allergic reactions) were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Three-year treatment with budesonide once daily (200 or 400 microg) is safe and well tolerated in children and adults with newly detected mild persistent asthma.

Anaphylaxis: clinical aspects.

Anaphylaxis is a rarely anticipated, potentially life-threatening systemic allergic reaction with symptoms ranging from mild flushing to upper respiratory obstruction with or without vascular collapse. Early recognition of symptoms with prompt institution of therapy is central to a successful outcome. Anaphylaxis is IgE mediated, whereas non-IgE mediated anaphylatic reactions are termed anaphylactoid. Food-induced anaphylactic reactions, particularly peanut, are being recognized with increasing frequency. Central to appropriate therapy of the acute reaction is adminstration of intramuscular adrenalin. However, with the advent of humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, such reactions may be reduced in frequency and severity.

Primary acquired cold urticaria.

Primary acquired cold urticaria (ACU) is the most common type of cold urticaria characterized by rapid onset of pruritic hives, swelling, and possible severe systemic reactions including hypotension and shock after cold exposure. Primary ACU is diagnosed by history of such symptoms, a positive immediate cold-contact stimulation test, and negative laboratory evaluation for underlying systemic disorders. Clinicians should be aware that patients with ACU may be susceptible to life-threatening systemic reactions especially during aquatic activities and that proper patient education is extremely important. This article reviews the clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of primary ACU.

Episodic swelling in a pregnant woman from Bangladesh: evaluation and management of angioedema in pregnancy.

Deficiencies in the C1 inhibitor protein are central to the pathogenesis of acquired and hereditary angioedema syndromes. Here, we present a case of a patient who developed recurrent episodes of angioedema during pregnancy. We discuss the evaluation of patients presenting with angioedema, describe the mechanisms by which deficiencies in C1 inhibitor contribute to the development of angioedema, and focus on the natural history and clinical management of the pregnant patient with angioedema.

Occupational asthma: a case of Baker's asthma.

Asthma is one of the most prominent respiratory diseases worldwide. It is defined by airflow limitation and/or airway hyperresponsiveness and can be exacerbated by a number of environmental allergens. When allergic asthma exacerbations are attributed to stimuli in a particular work environment, then occupational asthma must be considered. Incidence estimates vary, but in 1999 the Surveillance of Work-Related and Occupational Respiratory Disease in the United Kingdom estimated 4293 incident cases of occupational respiratory disease, an increase of 1427 cases over the previous year. Occupational asthma represented 26% of these cases. Baker's asthma is one of the most frequently reported types of occupational asthma in several countries. Diagniostic steps include thorough history, careful exam, and demonstration of functional reversible airflow obstruction. Treatment modalities used for occupational asthma are similar to those used in the management of other forms of asthma, with particular attention to reducing the level of exposure to the inciting allergen.

Peanut allergy.

Peanut allergies have become a major health concern in the United States. Peanuts are one of the most common causes of food allergies and along with tree nuts they account for most of the cases of fatal and near-fatal anaphylactic reactions to food. Not only is there a rise in the prevalence of peanut allergies in Westernized countries but also most patients with peanut allergies have lifelong clinical sensitivities to peanuts. Patient management involves strict avoidance, recognition of the early symptoms of anaphylaxis, and usage of an emergency treatment plan, including the self-administration of epinephrine in case of an accidental ingestion. Future treatment strategies may include recombinant peanut protein immunotherapy and anti-Immunoglobulin E therapy to modulate clinical reactivity to peanuts. This article reviews the current understanding of the clinical characteristics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of the peanut allergy.

Exercise-induced Anaphylaxis.

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis has been recognized with increasing frequency since its original description in 1980. Recent studies suggest food-induced reactions may occur frequently in this syndrome, which is a mast cell-dependent phenomenon. In this article, the clinical manifestations of exercise-induced anaphylaxis are reviewed, and food-related factors contributing to the disorder are considered.