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

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Leslie E Stolz, Albert L Sheffer
• Journal: Expert review of clinical immunology (Expert Rev Clin Immunol) Vol. 8 Issue 1 Pg. 25-32 (Jan 2012) ISSN: 1744-8409 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22149337 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase III, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein
• Peptides
• ecallantide
• Kallikreins
• Bradykinin

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Angioedemas, Hereditary (blood, drug therapy, genetics)
• Bradykinin (blood, genetics)
• Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein (genetics)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Kallikreins (blood, genetics)
• Laryngeal Diseases (blood, drug therapy, genetics)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Peptides (administration & dosage)