[Immunotherapy against hymenoptera venom: report of ten patients].
BACKGROUND
Immunotherapy can be used to treat allergic reactions to insect stings, specially bees and wasps.


OBJECTIVE
To report the experience with immunotherapy with aqueous extracts of hymenoptera venoms (bees and wasps).


METHODS
Ten patients aged 6 to 58 years were treated in an allergy center of a University Clinical Hospital. The medical indication for this treatment was, in all patients, anaphylactic reactions after hymenoptera stings. Immunotherapy was carried out using standardized vaccines (Aqueous extracts Venomvac LETI, Spain), applied in a traditional protocol, with subcutaneous injections. This protocol had two phases: a buildup phase (between weeks 1 and 13) and a monthly maintenance phase, from the 13th week. The monthly maintenance dose was 100 fig of hymenoptera specific venom extract.


RESULTS
Six patients had adverse reactions of different severity, during the treatment protocols and all had a good response to immediate therapeutic measures. After these events, they followed the protocol without problems. Two patients, treated with bee vaccines, suffered an accidental bee sting during the maintenance phase and they developed only local reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of adverse reactions to bee stings in these two patients indicates the acquisition of clinical tolerance.
Guzmán M
María Antonieta
MA
Centro de Alergias, Sección Inmunología y Alergología, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Chile. mguzman@redclinicauchile.cl
Salinas L
Jessica
J
Toche P
Paola
P
Marinovic M
María Angélica
MA
Gallardo O
Ana María
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000276:immunology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001514:Bee Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms