[Three cases of centipede allergy--analysis of cross reactivity with bee allergy].
BACKGROUND
We experienced three cases of patients who suffered from systemic urticaria and systemic symptoms such as general fatigue and dyspnea which occurred just after the sting of centipede. The result of prick test by centipede venom revealed positive reaction in all three patients, so we diagnosed the symptoms of them as immediate type allergic reaction against centipede venom. And more there have been some reports documented the relationship between centipede allergy and bee allergy, so we added the examination about bee allergy on these three patients.


METHODS
The measurement of bee venom specific IgE was practiced on all three patients and intradermal skin test about bee venom was done only on one patient. Moreover we also practiced prick test of centipede venom against another three patients who were diagnosed as having bee allergy.


RESULTS
All patients of centipede allergy showed positive reaction for the specific IgE antibody of Wasp and/or Honeybee and one patient who was practiced skin test also reacted positively against Wasp and Yellow Jacket venom. But none of three patients of bee allergy showed positive reaction against centipede venom.


CONCLUSIONS
According to these results we suspected that there lies some relationship between centipede allergy and bee allergy. But it is supposed that only little involvement of centipede allergy was concerned among the patients of bee allergy. Until now there have been only a few reports as to the centipede allergy. But actually we guess it may be the phenomenon that could occur frequently.
Harada
Susumu
S
Department of Dermatology, Sanda Municipal Hospital. harasusu@syd.odn.ne.jp
Yoshizaki
Yoshitsugu
Y
Natsuaki
Masaru
M
Shimizu
Hideki
H
Fukuda
Hitoshi
H
Nagai
Hiroshi
H
Ikeda
Tetsuya
T
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms; D001516:Bees / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests; D014581:Urticaria / Q000276:immunology*
D001514:Bee Venoms; D007073:Immunoglobulin E