title: Insect Venom Immunotherapy: Analysis of the Safety and Tolerance of 3 Buildup Protocols Frequently Used in Spain.
abstract: Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy (VIT) is an effective treatment but not one devoid of risk, as both local and systemic adverse reactions may occur, especially in the initial phases. We compared the tolerance to 3 VIT buildup protocols and analyzed risk factors associated with adverse reactions during this phase.
  
  
  
  We enrolled 165 patients divided into 3 groups based on the buildup protocol used (3, 4, and 9 weeks). The severity of systemic reactions was evaluated according to the World Allergy Organization model. Results were analyzed using exploratory descriptive statistics, and variables were compared using analysis of variance.
  
  
  
  Adverse reactions were recorded in 53 patients (32%) (43 local and 10 systemic). Local reactions were immediate in 27 patients (63%) and delayed in 16 (37%). The severity of the local reaction was slight/moderate in 15 patients and severe in 13. Systemic reactions were grade 1-2. No significant association was found between the treatment modality and the onset of local or systemic adverse reactions or the type of local reaction. We only found a statistically significant association between severity of the local reaction and female gender. As for the risk factors associated with systemic reactions during the buildup phase, we found no significant differences in values depending on the protocol used or the insect responsible.
  
  
  
  The buildup protocols compared proved to be safe and did not differ significantly from one another. In the population studied, patients undergoing the 9-week schedule presented no systemic reactions. Therefore, this protocol can be considered the safest approach.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Neumología-Alergia, Hospital Universitario Puerta Mar, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez Fernández
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Prado, Talavera de la Reina, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreno-Ancillo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Regional Carlos Haya, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández Meléndez
authors.affiliation: Servicio Alergología, Hospital Virgen Puerto, Plasencia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Noche
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Educación, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gálvez Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Servicio Alergología, Hospital General Universitario, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alfaya Arias
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carballada González
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso Llamazares
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marques Amat
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vega Castro
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antolín Amérigo
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cruz Granados
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruiz León
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez Morillas
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano Gomis
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borja Segade
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dalmau Duch
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guspi Bori
authors.affiliation: Hymenoptera Allergy Committee of the SEAIC
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda Páez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000276:immunology*; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001180:Arthropod Venoms
keywords: Allergy; Apis mellifera; Buildup protocols; Hymenoptera; Immunotherapy; Insect venom immunotherapy; Local reaction; Polistes species.; Systemic reaction; Vespula species