HAE Awareness and Diagnosis in the Middle East

In this episode of All Things Angioedema, Dr. Thomas Buttgereit speaks with Prof. Maohamed Abuzakouk, Chair of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, about the evolving landscape of hereditary angioedema (HAE) care in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East region. With more than three decades of experience in allergy and immunology across Ireland, the UK, and the Gulf region, Prof. Abuzakouk shares valuable insights into how awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of HAE have developed in recent years. They discuss:🔹 How does hereditary angioedema typically present in patients in the UAE and are there regional differences compared to Europe or North America? 🔹 What challenges contribute to delayed diagnosis, including misdiagnosis as allergic angioedema or surgical abdominal emergencies? 🔹 How do cultural and genetic factors, such as higher rates of consanguinity, influence HAE detection and family clustering? 🔹 What initiatives have improved physician awareness and education across the region in the past decade? 🔹 How do regional consensus statements help adapt international HAE guidelines to local healthcare systems? 🔹 Which modern therapies for on-demand treatment and long-term prophylaxis are currently available in the UAE? 🔹 Why are national and regional HAE registries essential for improving diagnosis and patient care in the Middle East? Prof. Abuzakouk highlights the remarkable progress made in the UAE, including improved access to diagnostic testing, modern therapies, and international collaborations with networks such as GA²LEN and ACARE. At the same time, he emphasizes the importance of continuing efforts to identify undiagnosed patients, establish regional registries, strengthen patient advocacy groups, and expand education for healthcare providers. The discussion concludes with a clear vision for the future: eliminating diagnostic delays, improving quality of life for all patients with HAE, and ultimately achieving zero preventable mortality from the disease. Key Learnings from the Episode:Hereditary angioedema in the UAE presents clinically similar to cases in Europe and North America. Higher rates of consanguinity may contribute to larger affected families and genetic clustering. Delayed diagnosis remains a challenge, particularly in older generations of patients. Abdominal HAE attacks are frequently misdiagnosed as surgical emergencies. Educational initiatives and small-group training programs have significantly improved awareness among clinicians. Improved laboratory access to C4 and C1 inhibitor testing has facilitated earlier diagnosis. Regional consensus guidelines emphasize early diagnosis and universal access to on-demand therapy. Specialized allergy and immunology centers remain limited across the region. Chapters:00:00 Introduction to HAE in the UAE06:58 Challenges and Regional Differences in HAE09:52 Awareness and Education Efforts11:12 Regional Consensus on HAE Management14:05 Future Steps for HAE Care in the UAEDo you have suggestions for future episodes? Please provide feedback and offer your suggestions for future topics and expert selection here.Feedback form ATA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.office.com/e/ZWxx3D4Cmr⁠⁠