Ecallantide (DX-88), a plasma kallikrein inhibitor for the treatment of hereditary angioedema

PubMed, the Internet portal of biomedical and life sciences literature, indexed an interesting article, entitled Ecallantide (DX-88), a plasma kallikrein inhibitor for the treatment of hereditary angioedema and the prevention of blood loss in on-pump cardiothoracic surgery (Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2008 Aug;8(8):1187-99). Author is Lehmann A from the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Germany. Plasma kallikrein plays a major role in the contact (kallikrein-kinin) cascade producing bradykinin. Bradykinin is a vasodilator, which increases vascular permeability, activates inflammation and produces pain. Plasma kallikrein is also crosslinked to the coagulation system and the complement cascade.Ecallantide (DX-88) is a potent and specific inhibitor of plasma kallikrein. Ecallantide is a recombinantly produced and engineered small protein. At present, the drug is being studied for two major indications. First, the results for the treatment of hereditary angioedema are promising. Second, a prospective randomised multi-centre trial for the reduction of blood loss during on-pump cardiothoracic surgery will be terminated in October 2008. To access the full abstract of the article, click here.