Hereditary angioedema: a current state-of-the-art review, V: attenuated androgens for the treatment of hereditary angioedema.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a summary of the literature regarding the use of attenuated androgens during the past 40 to 50 years for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE).

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE and PubMed were searched to identify studies involving the treatment of HAE with androgens.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were selected based on their relevance to the use of androgens for the treatment of HAE.

RESULTS

Attenuated androgens have proven successful for the short- and long-term treatment of HAE. Adverse effects are still concerning, and their use in children and pregnant women must be undertaken with great caution. Scheduled monitoring of liver function tests and lipid profiles in patients treated with these medications is critical.

CONCLUSIONS

Attenuated androgens have been successful in the short- and long-term treatment of HAE, and they are still the most frequently used medications in the United States for the treatment of this disease. There is a lack of readily available options for the treatment of acute HAE attacks apart from the administration of fresh frozen plasma or safe prophylactic therapies; however, several appropriate agents currently in clinical trials in the United States appear promising.