title: Recombinant replacement therapy for hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency.
abstract: Hereditary angioedema is a rare genetic condition transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait and characterized most commonly by the production of either inadequate or nonfunctioning C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), a blood protein that regulates proteases in the complement, fibrinolytic and contact systems. Patients with hereditary angioedema suffer from episodic, unpredictable manifestations of edema affecting multiple anatomical locations, including the GI tract, facial tissue, the upper airway, oropharynx, urogenital region and/or the arms and legs. A rational approach to treatment is replacement of C1-INH protein, to normalize the levels of C1-INH activity and halt the progression of the biochemical activation processes underlying the edema formation. Ruconest is a highly purified recombinant human C1-INH. This article will focus on the results of ten clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of Ruconest(®) (Pharming Group NV, Leiden, the Netherlands), which is now approved for use in Europe, Israel and the USA.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Mures County Hospital, 1 Marinescu St, 540103 Tîrgu Mures, Romania.
authors.forename: Dumitru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moldovan
authors.affiliation: Allergy Section, Division of Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way ML#563 Room 7413, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0563, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cicardi
mesh_terms: D054179:Angioedemas, Hereditary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D050718:Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D050718:Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C571093:conestat alfa
keywords: C1-INH; C1-INH-HAE; Ruconest®; hereditary angioedema; recombinant human C1 esterase inhibitor