LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — A new clinical trial in Little Rock is offering hope to families battling hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare and life-threatening swelling disorder. Dr. Karl Sitz, a local allergist, is spearheading efforts to provide better treatment options for those affected by the condition.
“You can imagine being at church, at work, at school, and having the fear of having your eyes, your lips, your hands swell,” said Dr. Sitz. He explained that hereditary angioedema is a genetic abnormality that causes rapid swelling in various parts of the body, including the eyes, lips, tongue, hands, feet, and even the throat, which can lead to suffocation.
Since the discovery of HAE in 1888, there were no FDA-approved treatments until 2008. Dr. Sitz emphasized the need for more effective and easier-to-use treatments. “Our first treatment for HAE was a medication that you had to get an IV and an infusion twice a week,” he said. The current study involves a medication called Deucrictibant, an oral pill taken once a day, being tested as both a preventative and on-demand treatment…