Deficiency of plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 in plasma of patients with hereditary angioedema with normal C1 inhibitor levels

Background Hereditary angioedema with normal C1 inhibitor levels (HAE-N) is associated with a Factor XII mutation in 30% of subjects; however, the role of this mutation in the pathogenesis of angioedema is unclear. Objective We sought evidence of abnormalities in the pathways of bradykinin formation and bradykinin degradation in the plasma of patients with HAE-N both with and without the mutation. Methods Bradykinin was added to plasma, and its rate of degradation was measured by using ELISA. Plasma autoactivation was assessed by using a chromogenic assay of kallikrein formation. Plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs) 1 and 2 were also measured by means of ELISA. Results PAI-1 levels varie…