Anaphylaxis after stings by Vespula spp. - preventions, safety profile of venom immunotherapy, data from the Anaphylaxis Registry for West Pomerania Voivodeship, Poland.

Stings by Hymenoptera, especially by Vespula spp. are one of the most common causes of anaphylaxis among adults. The only method of preventing further episodes of anaphylaxis, in people with IgE allergy to Hymenoptera venom, is venom immunotherapy (VIT). Its efficacy, depending on the type of venom it is administered with, is very high at 77-84% for bee venom, and 91-96% for Vespula spp. venom. Retrospective, noninterventional study based on the analysis of medical records of 113 patients was conducted.

Results

The analysis shows that complications occur more frequently when the procedure was initiated with lower contcetration of initial venom dose , and therefore the more doses (injections) had to be made. Systemic complications depended on the age of the patient (p < .05). The occurrence of severe complications, forcing the discontinuation of immunotherapy during the ultra rush regimen, was associated with higher baseline tryptase levels (p < .05) in the studied group and higher mean age (51 y.o.). Very rapid immunotherapy with Vespula spp. venom aqueous solution: ultra-rush VIT, is a very safe and time-saving procedure for both patients and medical staff. Full-blown anaphylaxis is a rare and generally well-controlled complication of ultra-rush VIT procedures.