Background: The current diagnostic procedures of anaphylactic reactions to hymenoptera stings include intradermal tests, venom-specific IgE (sIgE) and possibly sting challenge tests. Sometimes, the culprit insect remains unidentified. The usefulness of the cellular assays CAST®-ELISA and Flow-CAST® in the management of hymenoptera venom allergy was investigated. Methods: 134 patients with systemic reactions after a yellow jacket wasp and/or honey bee sting and 44 healthy controls underwent skin tests, as well as determination of sIgE (CAP-FEIA), leukocyte sulfidoleukotriene release (CAST-ELISA) and basophil CD63 expression (Flow-CAST) upon insect venom stimulation. The clinical diagnosis based on the history alone served as reference. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of all methods were compared. Concordance and correlations among methods were calculated. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of all in vitro tests were consistently high. The combination of all tests (skin tests, sIgE, combined cellular assays) yielded a positive predictive value of 100% for both venoms, if all 3 were positive, and a negative predictive value of 100%, if at least 1 test was positive. Relative specificities were considerably higher for the cellular assays (honey bee: CAST 91.1%, Flow-CAST 85.7%; yellow jacket wasp: CAST 98.4%, Flow-CAST 92.1%) and allow the detection of the culprit insect in patients with reactivity to both insects. The concordance between methods was good. There is no correlation between severity of clinical reaction and cellular assays. Conclusion: CAST-ELISA and Flow-CAST are valuable additional diagnostic tools for establishing the true culprit insect in patients with unclear clinical history or sensitization to both insects.
Isolated allergy to the common housefly (Musca domestica) has only been described in four cases. Predisposing factors include high concentrations of allergens and prolonged exposure time. Two pharmaceutical industry workers, 59 and 34 years of age, both without atopy, presented with recent onset of allergic rhinitis. Their symptoms appeared about 30 minutes after exposure to Musca domestica in the closed breeding rooms. They were symptom-free with other insects, on weekends and on vacation. Skin prick tests with common inhalant allergens were negative. Prick testing with crushed Musca domestica adults, hatched eggs, contaminated nets and sand, as well as fly feces were all positive. One patient had specific IGE antibodies against Musca domestica. Both patients lacked specific IgE antibodies against other insect species and common aeroallergens. In these two patients there was a species-specific sensitization without relevant cross reactions to other arthropods. The patients were transferred to new work sites where they had no contact with Musca domestica and became symptom-free. Thus this common insect can be a relevant occupational aeroallergen.
No abstract
Allergic rhinitis is a common disease with a prevalence of 10-20% in western countries. Allergic rhinitis may be complicated by the possible restriction of quality of life and can lead to sequelae like sinusitis, headache or even allergic asthma. The treatment of allergic rhinitis is mainly based on allergen avoidance, pharmacological treatment and specific immunotherapy. For mild symptoms of seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis topical or nonsedating second generation oral H1-antihistamines or chromones are advised. If the patient presents symptoms of long duration or nasal obstruction is dominant, intranasal steroids should be used, which have proved to be an effective and safe form of therapy for allergic rhinitis. A combination of oral antihistamines and steroids are possible and recommended if one of these agents alone does not provide sufficient relief. If necessary this regimen is supplemented with topical antihistamines or chromone eyedrops. In cases of severe nasal obstruction, a short course of oral steroids or topical decongestants, which both should not be given longer than ten days, is recommended. Intramuscular corticosteroids should not be given, due to the suppression of adrenal glands. In addition it is important to prevent exposure to the allergen. If the treatment is not effective, further investigations should be done to exclude other nasal diseases (polyposis nasi, anatomical anomalies, chronic sinusitis). This article summarizes the recommended medications with their possible side-effects and their place in therapy management of allergic rhinitis in adults and children.
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