Improving Health Equity in Hereditary Angioedema (HAE): A Panel Discussion

This educational program is made possible by an unrestricted grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disease that results in immunologic attacks that can be life-threatening. HAE is the result of reduced levels of C1-inhibitor, a protein involved in various physiological processes in plasma, most notably with the complement system. C1-inhibitor also binds and inhibits plasma kallikrein and factor XIa, thereby affecting bradykinin production. It is believed that the disruptions of these processes lead to fluid leaking from the blood to connective tissue which leads to HAE attacks. It is these HAE attacks that tend to put persons in the emergency department or unable to attend work or school.

Numerous therapies are now available for patients with HAE to both treat acute attacks and prevent attacks via prophylactic treatment.

With so many treatment options now available, is it disheartening to learn that not all patients with HAE are receiving equal care or access to care. Patients with HAE living in rural areas as patients from underrepresented racial or ethnic backgrounds are not provided the same level of care as patients, especially Caucasian patients,  living in more affluent areas. 

This panel discussion by three clinical research leaders in HAE, Drs. Aleena Banerji, Timothy Craig, and Marc Riedl, provide an overview of the discrepancies in care observed in certain patient populations, as well as a discussion on best practices to reduce those inequalities moving forward.

To view this program in video format, go to https://checkrare.com/improving-health-equity-in-hereditary-angioedema-hae-a-panel-discussion/