title: Successful treatment of acute hereditary angioedema attacks with self-administered icatibant in patients with venous access problems.
abstract: Hereditary angioedema is a rare and potentially fatal autosomal dominant disorder characterised by unpredictable skin, gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract oedema. Plasma-derived C1-esterase inhibitors are effective in the prophylaxis or treatment of hereditary angioedema type I and II attacks, but must be administered intravenously. This may be problematic in patients with venous access difficulties. Icatibant, a bradykinin B2-receptor antagonist, is administered subcutaneously. In July 2008 icatibant received approval for healthcare professional-administered treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks in adults. In 2011 it received European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration licences for patient-administered treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks. Given these approvals, and with the appropriate training, icatibant could provide the opportunity for patients to self-administer treatment. This is one of the first long-term follow-up reports of patients with hereditary angioedema using self-administered icatibant. During follow-up, icatibant remained effective and patient satisfaction was high.
authors.affiliation: Department for Environmental Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Michaela.Wiednig@klinikumgraz.at
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiednig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054179:Angioedemas, Hereditary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; C065679:icatibant; D001920:Bradykinin