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Abstract
Hereditary angioedema (HAE), a condition caused by deficiency of C1 inhibitor that results in acute and painful swelling in locations that can include the face, neck, abdomen, extremities and genitals, is a potentially life-threatening disorder. Many factors may contribute to phenotype development. A case report prompted us to investigate the potential influence of early weaning on HAE gastrointestinal symptoms. Retrospective analysis was performed based on clinical data from 89 patients registered with our HAE center, including duration of breast-feeding, timing of cow's milk introduction, age at symptom onset and localization of the attacks. We did not find any relationship between these factors. Although breastfeeding is known to confer protection against numerous diseases, it showed no efficacy against the manifestations of HAE in our patient population. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]