Hereditary Angioedema
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) causes recurrent swelling of the skin, abdomen or airway because of excessive bradykinin activity, often related to deficient or dysfunctional C1 inhibitor. It behaves differently from allergic swelling.
Key takeaways
- HAE swelling usually occurs without hives and may not respond to antihistamines, corticosteroids or adrenaline.
- Throat or tongue swelling is an airway emergency even if previous attacks settled without intervention.
- Care should include an individual acute-attack plan and consideration of short- or long-term prevention.
A preventive-medicine listing is not an acute rescue plan; confirmed HAE type, attack pattern, pregnancy and treatment risks guide specialist care.
How is HAE distinguished from allergy?
Recurrent swelling without itchy wheals, abdominal attacks and family history are clues. Complement and C1-inhibitor blood tests support diagnosis, although a new genetic change means family history can be absent.
What is the role of prevention?
Preventive treatment is considered according to attack burden and how well on-demand therapy controls attacks. Danazol can reduce attacks but has important hormonal, liver and cardiovascular adverse effects, so alternatives and monitoring matter. Procedure-related prevention may be needed before dental or airway work.
When to seek urgent care
Call emergency services immediately for tongue or throat swelling, voice change, noisy breathing, difficulty swallowing, breathlessness or rapidly progressing facial swelling. Use the prescribed acute plan while arranging care, but do not wait for airway symptoms to settle.