A recent study published in Toxins found that venom immunotherapy (VIT), a treatment used to lower the risk of severe allergic reactions after insect stings, was well tolerated and provided long-term protection.
Many patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) are at risk of severe reactions to insect stings, and receive VIT as a preventative measure. VIT works by exposing the immune system to controlled doses of insect venom over time.
The five-year real-world study, conducted at a specialized allergy center in Southern Italy, followed 35 adults who received VIT after having severe allergic reactions to stings from Hymenoptera insects, a group that includes bees, wasps, hornets and ants. The study included two participants with SM.
Over the study period, 17 participants were stung again, including the participants with SM. None developed a severe systemic allergic reaction. This type of reaction spreads beyond the sting site and can include anaphylaxis, with symptoms such as breathing problems, dizziness or changes in blood pressure.
Blood tests also showed lower levels of allergy-related antibodies by the end of the study, suggesting that the immune system became less reactive to venom over time. All participants completed five years of VIT without serious treatment-related safety problems.
Read more about SM causes and risk factors
The study’s authors noted that their findings add to the evidence that VIT is an effective treatment for patients at higher risk for severe sting reactions. Beyond protecting patients from severe reactions, the authors noted VIT can also improve daily life by reducing worries about possible stings. “Its value relies not only on therapeutic efficacy, but also on restoring the perceived safety and quality of life of patients, often limited by the fear of occasional stings,” they noted.
The authors recommended that larger studies be performed to explore VIT in a wider population.
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