Safety of rush insect venom immunotherapy. The results of a retrospective study in 178 patients.

BACKGROUND

Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is regarded as an established and efficient treatment of Hymenoptera venom allergy. Different frequencies of side-effects have been reported in the literature, depending on the hyposensitization regimen (conventional outpatient programme, rush immunotherapy, ultra rush immunotherapy) and the venom preparation. Aim of this study was to evaluate safety and tolerance of rush VIT in patients treated with a 7-day protocol in our department.

METHODS

VIT protocols of 178 patients treated at the Department of Dermatology and Allergy of the University of Bonn were analysed retrospectively. All patients had been treated with a standardized venom preparations (ALK-SQ). We used a modified VIT-protocol with a 2-day break to reduce systemic side-effects.

RESULTS

During the course of VIT in 15 patients (8.4%) systemic reactions grade I (Mueller scale) were observed, in seven (3.9%) grade II, in six (3.4%) grade III and in four (2.2%) grade IV. A total of 146 patients (82.1%) had no or only local reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of systemic adverse reactions Mueller Grade I-IV of 17.9% of the 'Bonn rush VIT protocol' appears to be relatively low compared with the data in the literature.