Bee venom immunotherapy: clinical and immunologic observations.

In the present study the authors evaluated the usefulness of pure venom (PV) in the diagnosis and prevention of bee allergy in a group of 25 patients. In addition, they followed changes in specific IgE and IgG serum levels during the course of immunotherapy. They found excellent correlation between the clinical history and skin test reactivity to PV. The RAST values correlated well with skin test but were somewhat less specific. They used a rather moderate schedule of desensitization by which a 100 mcg maintenance dose was attained by the 11th week. This schedule resulted in minimal side effects and was extremely effective. None of the live insect challenged patients had major reactions. Successful immunization was not associated by a decrease in specific IgE level. In contrast, most patients exhibited an increase in specific serum IgG levels. An increase in IgG level did not prove to be an absolute indication of successful immunization.