These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Long-term protection after stopping venom immunotherapy: results of re-stings in 200 patients.
    Author: Lerch E, Müller UR.
    Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol; 1998 May; 101(5):606-12. PubMed ID: 9600496.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Venom immunotherapy (VIT) protects most patients allergic to Hymenoptera stings while booster injections are continued. Few data on long-term protection after discontinuation of treatment are available. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate protection from re-stings over a prolonged period after stopping VIT. METHODS: Re-sting data were obtained from 200 of 322 patients in whom VIT had been stopped between 1988 and 1992 after a duration of at least 3 years. The 25 (12.5%) patients who again developed systemic allergic reactions were compared with 50 matched patients without re-sting reactions. Clinical data and diagnostic parameters (i.e., skin sensitivity and specific IgE and IgG) were studied. RESULTS: Of the 25 patients who had re-sting reactions, 19 had been treated with bee venom (relapse rate, 15.8%), and six had been treated with Vespula venom (relapse rate, 7.5%). About half of the re-sting reactions occurred on the first resting after stopping VIT. Most of these reactions were mild, whereas the majority of reactions occurring after repeated re-stings were severe. When re-sting reactions were related to the total re-stings per year, an accumulation of sting reactions was observed in years 3 to 5 after stopping VIT. Patients with re-sting reactions had been receiving VIT for a significantly shorter duration (43.35 months) than those with continued protection (54.65 months) (p < 0.01). Of the diagnostic parameters, only a negative intracutaneous skin test at 10(-3) gm/L predicted long-term protection reliably. CONCLUSION: Venom immunotherapy of 3 to 5 years duration induces long-term protection in most patients. In rare occasions severe re-sting reactions may, however, occur, especially after repeated re-stings.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]