[Preventive treatment of severe allergic complications caused by Hymenoptera venom. Our experience apropos of 250 cases].

Out of a total of 350 referrals for allergy to hymenoptera venom over four years, 250 patients who had one or more severe systemic reactions were selected for a "rush course" of immunotherapy after confirmation of the responsible reagin (skin tests, specific IgE). The method used in the 245 patients who accepted the protocol enabled us to arrive at a maintenance dose of 100 micrograms of venom in three days. Tolerance was excellent; no serious side effects were observed; the course of immunotherapy did not have to be stopped in any of the patients. Clinical efficacy appeared to be satisfactory as no systemic reaction occurred in a fifth (50) of the patients treated who were bitten again, either spontaneously (24 cases), sometimes successfully and repeatedly (11 cases), or intentionally (26 cases). The IgG antivenom antibody was constantly raised from the first month and remained at a stable value. This harmless and effective method should be offered to patients allergic to hymenoptera venom.