Author/Editor		Korošec, Peter; Šilar, Mira; Eržen, Renato; Čelesnik, Nina; Bajrović, Nisera; Zidarn, Mihaela; Košnik, Mitja
Title		Clinical routine utility of basophil activation testing for diagnosis of Hymenoptera-allergic patients with emphasis on individuals with negative venom-specific IgE antibodies
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 161
Publication year		2013
Volume		str. 363-368
ISSN		1018-2438 - International archives of allergy and immunology
Language		eng
Abstract		Background: Previous reports suggest the usefulness of basophil activation testing (BAT) in Hymenoptera-allergic patients with negative venom-specific IgE antibodies. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic utility of this testing in a routine clinical laboratory setting. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with anaphylactic reactions to Hymenoptera sting (median grade III) and negative venom-specific IgE were routinely and prospectively tested with BAT. Results: We were able to diagnose 81% (17 of 21) of patients with BAT and 57% (12 of 21) with intradermal skin testing. Three wasp venom-allergic patients showed IgE positivity to rVes v 5. Four patients (19%) were negative for all tests. In the case of double-positive BAT, the culprit insect correlated with the venom that induced a significantly higher basophil response. Conclusions: BAT allows the identification of severe Hymenoptera-allergic patients with negative specific IgE and skin tests. The routine use of this cellular test should facilitate prescription of venom immunotherapy in complex cases with inconclusive diagnostic results.
Keywords		Hymenoptera venom allergy diagnostic tests basophil activation test