Venom immunotherapy: an updated review

Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Jul;14(7):449. doi: 10.1007/s11882-014-0449-1.

Abstract

Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the most effective form of specific immunotherapy to date. Hitherto, several relevant queries remain unanswered, namely optimal doses, duration, and means of assessment. Important progress has been lately made in terms of diagnosis by means of component-resolved diagnosis. Moreover, basophil activation test results in patients with negative serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and skin prick test confer this technique a promising future, although these outcomes shall be considered with caution. This review aims to unravel the important advances made on diagnosis, management, and prognosis and also focuses on several undetermined aspects of VIT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anaphylaxis / diagnosis
  • Anaphylaxis / etiology
  • Arthropod Venoms / adverse effects
  • Arthropod Venoms / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunotherapy* / adverse effects
  • Insect Bites and Stings / complications
  • Insect Bites and Stings / diagnosis
  • Insect Bites and Stings / immunology
  • Insect Bites and Stings / therapy*
  • Mastocytosis / etiology
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin Tests

Substances

  • Arthropod Venoms
  • Immunoglobulin E