Unknown Manufacturer • Approved for use in acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE). Investigated for use/treatment in angioedema, liver disease, and burns and burn infections.
Icatibant is a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist used to treat acute episodes of swelling and inflammation associated with hereditary angioedema (HAE).
Bradykinin is a peptide-based hormone that is formed locally in tissues in response to a trauma and acts to increases vessel permeability, dilates blood vessels and causes smooth muscle cells to contract. Bradykinin plays an important role in the mediation of pain as surplus bradykinin is partly responsible for producing signs of inflammation by activating bradykinin B2 receptors. In patients with HAE, they have an absent or dysfunctional C1-esterase inhibitor. This inhibitor is responsible for the production of bradykinin in which displacement of bradykinin from B2 receptors by icatibant has an inhibitory effect on the receptor for a relatively long time.
