Hereditary angioedema: what the gastroenterologist needs to know

Introduction

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a potentially life-threatening disease that may go unrecognized or be misdiagnosed for an average of 8 years before the correct diagnosis is established.1 Abdominal symptoms are extremely common, occurring in the majority (93%) of patients with HAE,2 and may be the only manifestation of the disease. Patients with HAE may initially present with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and distension, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.3,4

Because abdominal symptoms may precede by several years the episodes of subcutaneous tissue swelling that are characteristic of HAE, patients may undergo inappropriate surgical and medical treatment for any of a wide range of presumptive, incorrect diagnoses, including acute abdomen, biliary colic, hepatitis, regional enteritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis, ruptured ovarian cyst, intestinal obstruction, duodenal ulcer, and ulcerative colitis.3,4 Patients who develop abdominal symptoms related to HAE are usually seen by gastroenterologists, emergency department physicians, primary care physicians, and general surgeons.5 Given that the majority of patients with HAE experience abdominal attacks, it is important for gastroenterologists to appropriately diagnose and promptly recognize and treat HAE or refer patients with HAE to an allergist.2 This review highlights HAE, its clinical presentation, and the role of the gastroenterologist in its diagnosis and management.

Disease burden

Patients with HAE who are seen in the emergency department often require hospitalization, considerably increasing the cost of care for each attack.6 Review of a national database has shown that between 2006 and 2007 there were 5,040 emergency department visits by patients with HAE at a mean cost of $1,479 per visit, and with 41% of these visits requiring hospitalization.6 Similarly, in a 4-year analysis of the epidemiology of HAE, there were 10,125 hospitalizations, with a mean length of stay of 5 days and mean charges of $22,728.7 HAE is also associated with a high rate of morbidity, with many patients experiencing depression and poor health-related quality of life. HAE also negatively affects educational and career opportunities and reduces work productivity, compounding the substantial economic burden of HAE.8

Types and pathophysiology

Estimates of the incidence of HAE worldwide vary from one in 10,000 to one in 150,000 persons.9,10 In a retrospective review of patients with HAE, the median age at disease onset was 11.2 years, 93.3% of patients had recurrent abdominal pain, and women experienced a higher number of episodes per year than men.2 HAE is caused by mutations in the C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) gene, also known as the SERPING1 gene, which has been mapped to chromosome 11.11 A known family history is present in 75% of cases, with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern; in the remaining 25% of cases, the disease results from spontaneous mutations.12–14 Two types of HAE due to C1-INH deficiency have been characterized. Type I HAE accounts for 85% of cases and is due to mutations that result in decreased antigenic levels of functionally normal C1-INH. Type II HAE accounts for 15% of cases and is due to mutations that lead to levels of C1-INH that are normal but that have dysfunctional C1-INH proteins.15 So far, more than 200 different mutations that cause HAE have been identified.16,17

A third type of HAE (HAE with normal C1-INH) has been identified, in which the level and activity of C1-INH are normal and there is no characteristic laboratory profile. The clinical presentation of this type of HAE is indistinguishable from types I and II; however, this third type tends to develop later in life. In some patients, this subtype is associated with a mutation in the coagulation factor XII gene, with subsequent increased levels of bradykinin. Estrogen exacerbates the severity of disease in patients with HAE who have normal C1-INH, and edema appears to be estrogen-dependent in a subset of patients.18,19

The underlying mechanism for HAE types I and II is functional impairment of C1-INH, a protease inhibitor that regulates complement activation (C1r, C1s, and mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease [MASP]-1 and MASP-2), contact system activation (factor XII and kallikrein), and inactivation of several fibrinolytic (tissue plasminogen activator and plasmin) and coagulation (factor XI and thrombin) proteases.16,20,21 Of the four systems regulated by C1-INH, regulation of plasma kallikrein, the enzyme that releases bradykinin from kininogen, is responsible for the development of angioedema. A deficiency in C1-INH leads to unregulated plasma kallikrein activity, with subsequent overproduction of bradykinin that enhances vasodilation and vascular permeability, causing extravasation of plasma into interstitial tissue, leading to angioedema.18,22 The kallikrein-kinin system has a central role in several other systems, including the clotting cascade, vasodilation, vascular permeability, and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.21,23,24Figure 1 shows the dysregulation of the coagulation, complement, and contact cascades in HAE.25

Clinical presentation of type I and type II HAE

Precipitating factors for HAE episodes may include medications such as oral contraceptives or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, infection, trauma, hormonal changes, and surgical, endoscopic, or dental procedures.18,26,27 Depending on the underlying cause of angioedema, an untreated attack will typically resolve within 1–5 days; however, episodes involving the abdomen or upper airways may require acute treatment to alleviate pain, nausea, and vomiting, in the case of abdominal angioedema, and to prevent death, in the case of respiratory symptoms.5 The site of an HAE attack varies between patients and may also vary within the same patient.28 The most common symptoms of HAE are recurrent abdominal symptoms, occurring in about 93% of patients, and diffuse skin edema, particularly in the extremities, occurring in 97.5% of patients.2 The lips, eyelids, tongue, or genitalia may also be affected.2,28 The frequency and distribution of symptoms experienced by patients during an HAE attack are shown in Figure 2.2

HAE may also present with episodic, recurrent, unexplained abdominal attacks that involve symptoms of tender, crampy pain and nausea or vomiting.5,29,30 The abdominal pain experienced by patients with HAE may be severe and acute in onset, or may be recurrent and chronic and of moderate severity.5,29 The diarrhea is caused by edema of the gut that may result in extravascular fluid loss, leading to hypotension and shock in some patients.29 In a prospective and retrospective analysis of 153 patients with HAE, pain caused by abdominal attacks was characterized by its intensity, quality, and time course, and was described as having four phases, as well as a prephase (phase 0) in which patients had extra-abdominal symptoms but not abdominal pain (Figure 3).30 Phase 1 was the time from the first abdominal complaint to the onset of crampy pain; phase 2 was the time between the initial crampy pain and its peak; phase 3 was the time of maximum symptoms; and phase 4 was the time from the beginning of symptom relief to complete resolution of symptoms.30 The mean duration of phase 1 was 3.3 hours, during which patients had a wide range of symptoms, which included a feeling of satiety, abdominal distension, and nausea. All patients developed worsening crampy pain during phase 2, with the mean time to maximal pain being 2.4 hours. The median duration of the maximal pain phase was 23.5 hours, with crampy pain occurring in all patients, scored as severe to excruciating in 87% of patients and associated with vomiting and diarrhea in 78% and 65% of patients, respectively. The mean time to complete resolution of symptoms was 45.0 hours. Review of the character of the pain symptoms in these patients showed the presence of two different types of abdominal pain attack, ie, an upper gastrointestinal type and a lower gastrointestinal type. Patients with the upper gastrointestinal type of abdominal pain from HAE had extreme pain, nausea, vomiting, and hypotension in the absence of diarrhea; patients with the lower gastrointestinal type of abdominal attack had crampy pain and diarrhea, but no vomiting or hypotension. Other less frequent but potentially serious symptoms or complications in patients with HAE experiencing an abdominal attack have included circulatory collapse and shock due to hypovolemia, persistent noncrampy abdominal pain, dysuria, bloody diarrhea, intussusceptions, and tetany.30

The abdominal symptoms of HAE are often similar to those of an acute abdomen, sometimes prompting exploratory abdominal surgery; as a result, approximately one third of patients with undiagnosed HAE undergo unnecessary surgery at the time of an abdominal attack.31 Even after HAE has been diagnosed, distinguishing between an abdominal attack and a surgical emergency can be difficult.31 In one case, a 46-year-old woman presented with recurrent abdominal pain and edema several years before developing intermittent, localized episodes of limb, trunk, neck, and facial swelling. She had undergone numerous surgical procedures for a variety of diagnoses, including pancreatitis, cholecystitis, common bile duct stone, ruptured ovarian cyst, renal stone, intestinal obstruction, pyelonephritis, duodenal ulcer, and ulcerative colitis before HAE was ultimately diagnosed.3 In another case study, a 34-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal cramping on several occasions was treated for presumed gastroenteritis; this patient, too, was later found to have HAE.32 In a recent retrospective study, significant leukocytosis with neutrophilia and high hematocrit levels and no elevations in C-reactive protein levels were present in all patients with HAE during an acute gastrointestinal attack,33 suggesting that such a laboratory profile may be a consideration in the differential diagnosis of HAE.

Upper airway edema with asphyxiation is a potentially fatal clinical presentation of HAE.34 Although often referred to as “laryngeal edema,” upper airway edema often involves the mucosa of the mesopharynx and hypopharynx.35 Interestingly, however, the formation of edema spares the mucosa of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. In many cases, the exact anatomic location of swelling remains uncharted, because during attacks patients are only rarely seen by ear, nose, and throat specialists.35 Upper airway edema may occur in approximately half of all patients with HAE at least once in their lives.2 Upper airway edema has been associated with a high mortality rate, which has improved with appropriate diagnosis and treatment.29

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of HAE is often delayed due to low awareness of the disease; however, unacceptable delays in diagnosis have been reported even when a family history of HAE is known.36 Gastroenterologists should consider a diagnosis of angioedema in all patients presenting with episodic, recurrent, unexplained abdominal attacks that involve symptoms of tender, crampy pain, and nausea or vomiting (Table 1).26,30,32 Between abdominal attacks, the patient with HAE is completely asymptomatic, unlike patients with functional bowel disorders. Analysis of the history should attempt to identify triggers for the symptoms, such as medications, allergens, trauma, or infection, and to identify either a personal or family history of HAE. Although the presence of a family history is helpful in making the diagnosis, the absence of a family history does not rule out the condition, because 25% of cases are the result of spontaneous mutations.13 During an acute episode, the physical examination may show marked abdominal distension; possible cutaneous swelling; diffuse or localized tenderness, sometimes with rebound; and shifting dullness with possible ascites.5 Urticaria and pruritus are not present and are seen only in allergic forms of angioedema,5 although in some patients, erythema marginatum precedes acute events and may be misdiagnosed as urticaria.37,38

Imaging studies for the diagnosis of HAE involving the abdomen include plain radiographs, ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen.39 An abdominal CT scan in a patient with HAE may show thickening of the bowel wall and mucosa and an increase in enhancement when a contrast agent is used (Figure 4).39 An abdominal CT scan may also show more layers of the small bowel than are normally visible and more prominent mesenteric vessels and ascites. Abdominal ultrasonography is useful for confirming the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity during an attack and for early detection of adverse effects of therapy,40,41 and may be less expensive and more readily available than CT. A CT scan or ultrasonography is usually sufficient to diagnose angioedema of the abdomen,27,42 and magnetic resonance imaging may be necessary with manifestations of potential cerebral edema.43

Capsule endoscopy can provide rapid visual confirmation of bowel occlusion due to HAE44 and may be a useful diagnostic tool. When HAE is suspected or known, proper prophylactic measures must be taken to prevent induction or exacerbation of potentially life-threatening oropharyngeal edema.5

Laboratory evaluation for HAE should include measurement of C4 complement, concentration of C1-INH, and functional measurement of C1-INH (see Table 1). C4 levels are typically less than 30% of mean normal levels, which usually range from 0.15 to 0.65 g/L in untreated HAE.45 Because C4 levels have a high sensitivity and negative predictive value for the disease, they are considered to be a good screening test for HAE.45,46 C1-INH antigen levels are low in type I HAE and are normal or high in type II HAE.15

If either the C1-INH concentration or functions are low in an individual with low C4 levels, the tests should be repeated before making the diagnosis, to minimize false positive results.45 Given the high negative predictive value of C4, the diagnosis of HAE should be questioned in individuals with normal C4 and low C1-INH concentration or function.15,45,46 Normal C4 levels and normal C1-INH concentration and function in patients with a clinical presentation consistent with HAE should prompt an evaluation for HAE with normal C1-INH.47,48 A thorough patient history, along with imaging and laboratory evaluations, is critical to successfully making a differential diagnosis of acute HAE and initiating prompt and appropriate treatment (Figure 5).49,50

Treatment

Prophylaxis

Although acute events can be unpredictable, certain triggers for acute HAE, such as environmental allergens, medications, surgeries, or childbirth, can be managed effectively.5,53,71 Prophylactic therapy for HAE is warranted for both short-term use prior to precipitating events such as dental or surgical procedures and for long-term use in high-risk patients, ie, those with frequent or severe episodes and those whose symptoms cannot be controlled with on-demand therapy (see Table 2).

In patients with suspected HAE, endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract or oropharynx is not recommended due to the risk of inducing a potentially life-threatening laryngeal attack.5 If warranted for additional clinical reasons, prophylactic measures to protect the patient against laryngeal swelling should be initiated.5

Attenuated androgens and nanofiltered C1-INH are the only treatments for the prophylaxis of HAE approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Attenuated androgens such as danazol, oxandrolone, and stanozolol50 work by increasing the levels of aminopeptidase P, which inactivates kinins and thereby increases production of C1-INH in the liver, and contributes to the protective effects of androgens against attacks of angioedema.74,75 Androgens can be used effectively and safely for the short-term prophylaxis of HAE.76 Long-term prophylaxis with androgens is associated with numerous adverse events, including weight gain, lipid abnormalities, liver cysts, hepatic adenomas and carcinomas, myopathies, hematuria, headaches, abnormal menses, hair loss or gain, increased or decreased libido, and anxiety.50,76 The side effects of attenuated androgens can be minimized by titrating down to the minimal effective dose.77

Owing to the risk of adverse events in patients taking attenuated androgens, currently the preferred therapy for both short-term and long-term HAE prophylaxis is nanofiltered C1-INH.78 In a randomized trial evaluating the efficacy of C1-INH for the prophylaxis of HAE attacks, patients treated with C1-INH had an average decrease of 6.47 attacks (P<0.001) compared with patients receiving placebo over the 12-week evaluation period.78 Treatment with C1-INH significantly reduced the frequency, severity, and duration of attacks, the number of rescue treatments of C1-INH needed, and the number of days of swelling.78

Antifibrinolytic agents are not commonly used in the US. Agents such as tranexamic acid and epsilon-aminocaproic acid are chemically synthesized and exert their action in HAE by inhibiting conversion of plasminogen to plasmin.50 These agents have been used for short-term and long-term prophylaxis,57,75 although they are the least effective of the available therapeutic modalities and not recommended based on recent data.57 The dosing recommendation for tranexamic acid is 25 mg 2–3 times a day, not to exceed 6 g/day for the goal. Although prophylaxis reduces the occurrence of edematous episodes, it should be emphasized that life-threatening attacks may nevertheless occur.50

Conclusion

Gastroenterologists are likely to be consulted when patients with HAE are hospitalized for acute HAE attacks involving abdominal symptoms, and may also see patients with HAE in the clinic when they are referred from the emergency department after an attack, usually during asymptomatic periods. The consequences of a missed diagnosis of HAE are considerable, with undiagnosed patients likely visiting the emergency department and undergoing hospitalization and even unnecessary surgical procedures. Furthermore, inadequately treated attacks may progress, resulting in needless significant additional morbidity and even mortality. However, because abdominal pain is often associated with HAE, a high index of suspicion should be maintained for this diagnosis, and a family history should be elicited and appropriate imaging and laboratory studies obtained. In this way, gastroenterologists can promptly diagnose and treat HAE and proceed to make the appropriate referral to an allergist, who can manage this potentially life-threatening disease with current treatment.