SAFETY OF VENOMENHAL® VENOM IN MAINTENANCE HYMENOPTERA VENOM IMMUNOTHERAPY

Abstract

Background. Venomenhal® (V) is a new brand of

Hymenoptera venom allergen for diagnosis and immunotherapy

of venom allergy. We studied the safety of switching the

patients treated with other brands of venom to V.

Methods. We performed duplicate skin prick tests with V and

ALK Reless® (R) venom extract (100 μg/ml) in 68 patients (50

males, 42 ± 15 years) on maintenance immunotherapy with

honey bee (26) or wasp (42) venom. On two consecutive maintenance

injection days 53 patients received in random order

either 100 μg of R or V venom.

Results. Weal diameter in skin prick tests (mean ± st.dev.) were

3.9 ± 1.1 mm (V) and 4.1 ± 1.0 mm (R) for bee venom (NS)

and 3.4 ± 1.0 mm (V) and 3.9 ± 1.2 mm (R) for wasp venom (p

< 0.01). Local reaction 30 minutes after maintenance injection

were 6.1 ± 1.7 cm (V) and 5.4 ± 2.5 cm (R) for bee venom

(NS) and 5.1 ± 1.8 cm (V) and 6.1 ± 1.8 cm (R) for wasp venom

(p < 0.05).

Late local reactions (LLR) and tiredness (T) on the day of injection

and 24 hours after injection were equally distributed

among both groups and were mild (LLR on the day of injection:

38% of patients [V] vs. 43% [R]. LLR after 24 hours: 28%

[V] vs. 28% [R]. T on the day of injection: 21% [V] vs. 23% [R].

T after 24 hours: 0% [V] vs. 6% [R]).

Conclusions. V was at least as safe as A. There were no adverse

reactions due to switching from one brand to another. Slightly

but significantly smaller weal in skin prick tests and immediate

local reactions might be due to lesser potency or better

purification of V wasp extract.