Author/Editor		Hafner, Tomaž
Title		Dolgoročna učinkovitost zdravljenja z imunoterapijo bolnikov, preobčutljivih za strup kožokrilcev
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2005
Volume		str. 25
Language		slo
Abstract		BACKGROUND. Anaphylactic reaction after the sting of bee, wasp or hornet can be a life treatening situation for allergic patients. The goal of immunotherapy is to attenuate immunologic and clinical response to venom. This is achieved with repeated injections of the venom antigens to the body. In this way we can influence the reaction at next insect sting. OBJECTIVE. Short-term effects of treatment have been proven to be very effective. We wondered how long this eficiency last and if there is any dinamic of reactions after several stings. HYPOTESIS. Our hypotesis was that immunotherapy was stil efficient enough to prevent majority of systemic reactions to stings many years after the end of treatment. METHODS. We included patients allergic to insect stings, which previously experienced anaphylactic reaction and have been treated with venom immunotherapy between the years 1988 and 2004. To all of them we sent an inquiry by mail and asked them if they were stung after the treatment by the same insect to which venom immunotherapy has been performed and what symptoms they had. We contacted all patients who were stung and had any kind of reaction by a phone to clarify the data. Patients subjectively compared the severity of reactions before and after treatment with immunotherapy. RESULTS. 449 of 645 people responded. We included 229 of them in our study. The immunotherapy lasted on average 4,16 years. 181 (79%) patients were treated more than 3 years, what is regarded as a minimal effective duration. 100 (55%) of them were stung after the treatment by the same insect to which venom they were allergic. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
Descriptors		BEE VENOMS WASP VENOMS ANAPHYLAXIS IMMUNOTHERAPY TREATMENT OUTCOME TIME FACTORS QUESTIONNAIRES