Immunological differences between insect venom-allergic patients with and without immunotherapy and asymptomatically sensitized subjects

Abstract

Background

Currently available tests are unable to distinguish between asymptomatic sensitization and clinically relevant Hymenoptera venom allergy. A reliable serological marker to monitor venom immunotherapy (VIT) does also not exist. Our aim was to find reliable serological markers to predict tolerance to bee and vespid stings.

Methods

We included 77 asymptomatically-sensitized subjects, 85 allergic-patients with acute systemic sting reactions, and 61 allergic-patients currently treated with VIT. Levels of sIgE and sIgG₄ to bee and vespid venom, rApi-m-1 and rVes-v-5 were measured immediately after allergic sting-reactions or before sting-challenges and four weeks later. All sting challenges were tolerated. The inhibitory activity was determined using BAT-inhibition and ELIFAB-assay.

Results

Median sIgG₄ levels were 96-fold higher in VIT patients (p<0.001) while sIgE/sIgG₄ ratios were consistently lower (p<0.001). The ELIFAB-assay was paralleled by low sIgE/sIgG₄ ratios in VIT-patients, showing markedly higher allergen-blocking capacity (p<0.001). An almost complete inhibition of the basophil response was seen in all patients treated with vespid venom, but not in those treated with bee venom. Four weeks after the sting, sIgE and sIgG₄ levels were increased in allergic and asymptomatically-sensitized patients, but not in VIT-patients.

Conclusion

Immunological responses after stings varied in bee and vespid venom allergic patients. In patients under VIT, sIgE and sIgG₄ remained completely stable after sting-challenges. Monitoring VIT efficacy was only possible in vespid venom allergy and the sIgG₄ threshold for rVes-v-5 had the highest sensitivity to confirm tolerance. The BAT-inhibition test was the most reliable tool to confirm tolerance on an individual basis.

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