A pilot study on perceived stress levels and emotion regulation processes in a group of pediatric patients with Hereditary Angioedema

Hereditary Angioedema due to C1 Inhibitor Deficency (C1-INH-HAE, or HAE) is charachterized for the estreme variability and impredictability of the swelling attacks, resulting in a considerable impairment of the daily activities of the patients. Recent studies rekon the role of psychological stress and depression in the pathogenesis of some of the HAE attacks, but a wider understanding of these processes is needed. Objective:Our aim is to study the psychological profiles and the stress levels in a group of pediatric patients and to verify their relevance in the pathogenesis HAE attacks, in order to contribute to a deeper unerstanding of the variability of the illness.The study is pioneering addressed to this age-range.