Understand HAE
Dariela, a real HAE patient,
helps prevent her
attacks with CINRYZE
HAE Symptoms and Triggers
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare, potentially life-threatening disease. It can cause attacks of painful, disfiguring swelling in any part of the body. Living with HAE isn't always easy, but learning about the symptoms and keeping track of your HAE attacks can help you create a treatment plan with your doctor.
HAE symptoms
HAE symptoms can be very different from person to person. That means one person with HAE could experience symptoms with greater severity and frequency, or in different locations than someone else who also has HAE.
HAE symptoms can also change within the same person. For example, some women with HAE experience a shift in the frequency of their HAE attacks during various life stages, such as puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
Common areas affected by HAE attacks
Before
During
Skin, or subcutaneous
Swelling of the skin usually affects the hands, face, feet or genitals. These attacks can be temporarily disfiguring and disabling and get in the way of everyday activities. These swelling attacks may be accompanied by redness, but the area usually doesn't itch. Before HAE is diagnosed, skin attacks are commonly misdiagnosed as allergic reactions.
Before
During
Stomach, or abdomen
HAE attacks in this area can cause mild to severe pain and be accompanied by vomiting and/or diarrhea. In one study, some patients experiencing untreated abdominal attacks had to stay in bed between 24 and 50 hours. Of people with HAE, 19–24% have reported undergoing unnecessary surgical procedures as a result of misdiagnosed abdominal attacks.
Before
During
Throat, or larynx
An attack that causes swelling in the throat, also called a laryngeal attack, can be frightening. Swelling in the throat can interfere with breathing, creating a potentially life-threatening situation. While laryngeal attacks occur less frequently than other types of attacks, they are the most serious. If you experience an HAE attack affecting your airway, seek emergency treatment as soon as possible.
Treatment guidelines recommend all HAE patients have an on-demand treatment option available for HAE attacks. Click here to learn more about one option to treat HAE attacks in adults.
On average, an untreated patient will experience 2 to 4 attacks each month.
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Triggers of an HAE attack
HAE attacks can be unpredictable. They can happen without any warning whatsoever, but some people have identified triggers that seem to set off their attacks. It’s important to remember that HAE can vary from person to person, so what triggers one person’s attacks can be very different from someone else who also has HAE.
Though each person will have a unique experience with HAE, some known triggers are:
- Emotional stress
- Injury
- Infection
- Hormonal influences, like menstruation
- Mechanical pressure from physical activities like typing or mowing the lawn
Keeping a journal of your attacks may help you identify your triggers, and recognize what types of activities and situations lead to your attacks.
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