TY - JOUR
T1 - Reproducibility of skin testing and serum venom specific IgE in hymenoptera venom allergy
AU - Graif, Yael
AU - Confino-Cohen, Ronit
AU - Goldberg, Arnon
PY - 2006/1
Y1 - 2006/1
N2 - Background: The decision regarding an immunotherapy regimen for venom-allergic patients is based on the results of skin testing and serum venom specific IgE measurements. However, their reliability has been questioned, and their reproducibility has not been examined. Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility and reliability of the results of skin testing and serum venom specific IgE measurement in venom-allergic patients. Methods: Patients with a systemic reaction after an insect sting were evaluated twice, 2 to 6 weeks apart, by intradermal skin tests and by determination of serum venom specific IgE to Hymenoptera venoms. Results: Thirty-five patients were evaluated 1 to 168 months (mean, 23 months) after the sting reaction. Reproducibility of skin test results for all venoms at the 2 sessions was found in 23 patients (66%). Reproducibility of venom specific IgE results for all venoms was found in 16 (59%) of 27 patients from whom 2 blood samples were available for evaluation. Concordance between skin test and venom specific IgE results for all venoms was found in 30 (51%) of 59 samples available for evaluation. Conclusions: The reproducibility of venom skin test and serum venom specific IgE results is relatively poor. It is common practice for therapeutic decisions regarding venom immunotherapy to be based on a single diagnostic evaluation. Consequently, many patients are either overtreated or undertreated. Better diagnostic methods are required in venom allergy.
AB - Background: The decision regarding an immunotherapy regimen for venom-allergic patients is based on the results of skin testing and serum venom specific IgE measurements. However, their reliability has been questioned, and their reproducibility has not been examined. Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility and reliability of the results of skin testing and serum venom specific IgE measurement in venom-allergic patients. Methods: Patients with a systemic reaction after an insect sting were evaluated twice, 2 to 6 weeks apart, by intradermal skin tests and by determination of serum venom specific IgE to Hymenoptera venoms. Results: Thirty-five patients were evaluated 1 to 168 months (mean, 23 months) after the sting reaction. Reproducibility of skin test results for all venoms at the 2 sessions was found in 23 patients (66%). Reproducibility of venom specific IgE results for all venoms was found in 16 (59%) of 27 patients from whom 2 blood samples were available for evaluation. Concordance between skin test and venom specific IgE results for all venoms was found in 30 (51%) of 59 samples available for evaluation. Conclusions: The reproducibility of venom skin test and serum venom specific IgE results is relatively poor. It is common practice for therapeutic decisions regarding venom immunotherapy to be based on a single diagnostic evaluation. Consequently, many patients are either overtreated or undertreated. Better diagnostic methods are required in venom allergy.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=31444450867&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)61035-6
DO - 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)61035-6
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C2 - 16440528
AN - SCOPUS:31444450867
SN - 1081-1206
VL - 96
SP - 24
EP - 29
JO - Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
JF - Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
IS - 1
ER -