title: Safety of hymenoptera venom immunotherapy: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of venom immunotherapy (VIT) in patients with insect sting allergy is not questioned. However, its safety, especially when honeybee is used, is a matter of concern.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature on VIT was done, with both aqueous and depot extracts, to compare the frequency of systemic reactions to honeybee and vespid venoms. A Medline search was performed using the keywords 'venom immunotherapy', 'safety' and 'tolerability'. The articles obtained were analyzed regarding the total number of patients treated with either honeybee or vespid VIT, the number and severity of systemic reactions during therapy, the type of extract used (aqueous or depot) and the administration regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of systemic reactions to VIT was 25.1% for honeybee venom and 5.8% for vespid venom (p < 0.0001), while it was similar with aqueous and depot extracts in the whole population of patients. This confirms that during VIT systemic reactions are significantly more frequent with honeybee venom compared with vespid venom, while there are no significant overall differences in systemic reactions between aqueous and depot extracts.
authors: Allergy/Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento, Via Bignami 1, 20126 Milan, Italy. cristoforo.incorvaia@gmail.com
authors: Cristoforo
authors: C
authors: Incorvaia
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Frati
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Dell'Albani
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Robino
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Cattaneo
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Mauro
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: David
authors: Rosanna
authors: R
authors: Qualizza
authors: Elide
authors: E
authors: Pastorello
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D001516:Bees / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000628:therapy*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D001514:Bee Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms