History | Health Spectrum Jess

"Jessica" is a real patient. Her name has been changed for confidentiality.

HAE: Disease Burden and Quality of Life

HAE attacks are often unpredictable, disfiguring, painful, and potentially lethal.
HAE can negatively affect a person’s ability to work, perform daily activities, travel, and engage in social activities.
Multiple factors contribute to the disease burden of HAE, including reduced quality of life (QoL) (3,4).
Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common among people living with HAE.
On-demand and long-term prophylaxis therapies can reduce disease burden and improve QoL in HAE (5).

Jessica

Jessica is a 58-year-old woman diagnosed with hereditary angioedema (HAE) type I.
She had her first attack at age 19 with swelling in her legs and feet.
She was later misdiagnosed with appendicitis, but because of her family history, a correct diagnosis was made before undergoing surgery.
Jessica was initially treated with androgens, then underwent hospitalization every 2 to 3 months with several rounds of ineffective epinephrine treatments.
Jessica’s HAE has had a significant effect on her quality of life (QoL).
She participated in several clinical trials in the mid-1990s.
The alleviation of physical and emotional stress in Jessica’s life greatly decreased her attacks, and she now manages her HAE with on-demand therapy.
Studies show that the most commonly self-reported trigger in patients with HAE is mental stress (1,2).

Family History

Jessica’s sister was diagnosed with HAE (type I) 2 years before her initial attack.

Comorbidities

Current Medications