Author Response

Abstract

We agree that direct comparisons of different measures of response to different hereditary angioedema (HAE) treatments are complicated by the different end points used in the reported studies, patient variability, and the inherently subjective nature of the outcomes studied. Additionally, variations in response time by attack site may occur. 1 Craig T.J. Levy R.J. Wasserman R.L. et al. Efficacy of human C1 esterase inhbitor concentrate compared with placebo in acute hereditary angioedema attacks. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009; 124: 801-808 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (297) Google Scholar The study populations in whom these treatments were tested were not identical, adding to the difficulty in comparison. These limitations are well understood and were noted in our report. 2 Wasserman R.L. Levy R.J. Bewtra A.K. et al. Prospective study of C1 esterase inhibitor in the treatment of successive acute abdominal and facial hereditary angioedema attacks. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2011; 106: 62-68 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (20) Google Scholar Time to response outcomes in hereditary angioedemaAnnals of Allergy, Asthma & ImmunologyVol. 106Issue 4PreviewIn their recent article, Wasserman et al1 make an important contribution to the rapidly expanding field of therapeutic management of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE), providing data on time to onset of symptom relief and time to complete symptom resolution for abdominal and facial attacks treated with C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). However, in comparing their study results with those of placebo-controlled trials of other products, the authors present a misleading comparison of C1-INH with ecallantide—misleading in that it is based on incomparable measures. Full-Text PDF