What causes hereditary angioedema (HAE)?
HAE is a rare genetic disease caused by an abnormality in a gene that makes C1-INH. C1-INH is short for complement-1 esterase inhibitor, a protein that helps regulate the immune system. Without this protein, people with HAE experience attacks of fluid retention and swelling. A person with HAE will have the disease for life, because it is part of their genetic makeup. However, depending on the severity of the disease, some people will have many attacks each month, while others could go months or even years without a swelling attack. Answered By: Henry Li, MD Document Published: 12/21/2006 3:38 PM Last Updated: 12/21/2006 3:53 PM The information on allabouthae.com is offered solely as a service to Internet customers and is general in nature. It is not intended, nor should it be construed as medical advice. For specific medical advice regarding illnesses or injuries, please consult your personal healthcare provider or a physician or healthcare provider who is trained in that area of exper
