Atopy and Systemic Reactions to Hymenoptera Stings

Abstract

ABSTRACfTo evaluate whether atopy is a risk factor for systemic reactions to hymenoptera stings, we compared the atopic status of two groups of subjects. Thefirst group included 93 patients (59 males), mean (± SD) age: 42.3 ± 17.2 yrs with a history of anaphylactic reactions to hymenoptera stings. The second was a control group of 712 subjects (379 males), mean (± SD) age: 42.0 ± 9.6 years recruited at a public health care center. The protocol included a standardized questionnaire about symptoms suggestive of atopy, i.e. medical diagnosis of asthma, perennial rhinitis or hay fever, and skin tests to common aeroallergens, i.e. house dust mites, cat danders, and grass pollens. The percentage of subjects with atopic symptoms was comparable in the two groups (32.2% for the patient group and 28.5 %for the control group). Similarly, 22.6% ofpatients and 36.8% of controls exhibited at least one positive skin prick test. Lastly, 15.1% of patients and 18.5% of controls (a nonsignificant difference) had at least one symptom of atopy and at least one positive skin test. These findings show that atopy is not a risk factor for systemic reactions to hymenoptera stings. (Allergy Proc 15:49-52, 1994) S ystemic reactions (SR) to hymenoptera stings (HS) are commonly present in up to 6.6%0 of the general population according to a recent report by our groupl using medical history and skin tests to venoms as criteria. Since these SR are IgE-mediated, atopy is widely considered as a possible risk factor. In previous attempts to establish a connection between atopy and

Prevalence and clinical relevance of specific immunoglobulin E to pollen caused by sting‐ induced specific immunoglobulin E to cross‐reacting carbohydrate determinants in Hymenoptera venoms

“…We, in addition, did not observe a higher prevalence of respiratory allergy, defined as a positive SPT to HDM or pollen (Table 1) associated with rhinitis or asthma, than in a general population [17,18,19]. This confirms the results of an earlier study that respiratory allergy does not predispose for HV allergy [20].…”

Epidemiology of hymenoptera allergy

“…Large studies performed in boy scouts [23] or in patients consulting for hymenoptera allergy [36][37][38] showed no association with atopy. Similarly in a recent case-control study including a group of 33 patients with a history of SR to hymenoptera stings, we found no difference between atopic and non-atopic subjects with regard to positive skin tests to common allergens [39]. In contrast atopy seems to be a risk factor in beekeepers [16,40].…”

Clinical Features of Children with Venom Allergy and Risk Factors for Severe Systemic Reactions

“…In parallel with several studies on adult populations [11,21,28,34] investigating the relationship between aeroallergen sensitization and severe SRs in patients with insect venom allergy, our results were also far from establishing a significant association. The relationship between atopic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis and severe reactions in venom-allergic patients has also been investigated.…”