COVID-19 and Hereditary Angioedema (HAE): Incidence, Outcomes and
Mechanistic Implications
Abstract
Background: HAE patients have been postulated to be at increased risk
for COVID-19 infection due to inherent dysregulation of the plasma
kallikrein-kinin system. Only limited data has been available to explore
this hypothesis. The aim of this study was to assess the
interrelationship(s) between COVID-19 and HAE. Methods: Self-reported
COVID-19 infection, complications, morbidity and mortality were surveyed
using an online questionnaire. Subjects included HAE with C1 inhibitor
deficiency (HAE-C1INH), normal C1 inhibitor (HAE-nl-C1INH and household
controls. The impact of HAE medications was examined. Results: 1445
participants completed the survey, including: 695 HAE-C1INH, 175
HAE-nl-C1INH, and 292 controls. The incidence of reported COVID-19 was
not significantly different between controls (9%) and HAE-C1INH (11%)
but was greater in HAE-nl-C1INH (19%, p=0.006). Obesity was positively
correlated with COVID-19 across the overall population (16% vs 10%,
p=0.012), with a similar but non-significant trend in HAE-C1INH (14% vs
9%). Co-morbid autoimmune disease was a risk factor for COVID-19 in
HAE-C1INH (p = 0.047). COVID-19 severity and complications were similar
in all groups. Reported COVID-19 was reduced in HAE-C1INH subjects
receiving prophylactic subcutaneous C1INH (5.6%, p=0.0371) or on-demand
icatibant (7.8%, p=0.0016). HAE-C1INH subjects not on any HAE
medications had an increased risk of COVID-19 compared to normal
controls (24.5%, p=0.006). Conclusions: HAE-C1INH subjects not taking
HAE medications had an enhanced risk for COVID-19 infection.
Subcutaneous C1INH and icatibant significantly reduced this risk. The
results implicate roles for the complement cascade as well as
non-contact system related kinin generating pathways in the pathogenesis
of COVID-19 in HAE-C1INH.