Mastocytosis and Hymenoptera allergy.
OBJECTIVE
Mastocytosis is a rare disease with associations with anaphylactic reactions to Hymenoptera stings. The purpose of this review is to examine these associations with regard to prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in the insect-venom-allergic population.


RESULTS
Systemic mastocytosis is overrepresented in the Hymenoptera-allergic population and is associated with an increased risk of more-severe reactions following field stings or sting challenges, lack of sensitization to venoms by skin test or radioallergosorbent test, increased side effects to venom immunotherapy, reduced efficacy of venom immunotherapy and treatment failures. Serum tryptase determinations are a simple and reliable screening procedure for systemic mastocytosis. Patients with elevated values should be referred to specialized centers for confirmatory diagnosis including bone marrow histology.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis should be considered in Hymenoptera-allergic patients showing any of the management problems associated with this disease. Patients with mastocytosis and Hymenoptera allergy require special attention, mainly because of reduced safety and efficacy of venom immunotherapy. Whether or not venom immunotherapy is given, such patients should continue to carry an Epipen indefinitely.
Dubois
Anthony E J
AE
Department of Allergology, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.e.j.dubois@int.azg.nl
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000276:immunology*; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D012882:Skin Tests