Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Discontinuing venom immunotherapy.

D B Golden1

  • 1Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA. GoldenMD@aol.com

Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|April 20, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Case report of venom immunotherapy for a patient with large local reactions.

Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology·2001
Same author

Insect sting allergy with negative venom skin test responses.

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·2001
Same author

Fatal insect allergy after discontinuation of venom immunotherapy.

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·2001
Same author

Survey of patients after discontinuing venom immunotherapy.

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·2000
Same author

Basic concepts relating to the field of allergology.

Allergy·1999
Same author

Stinging insect hypersensitivity: a practice parameter. The Joint Force on Practice Parameters, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·1999
Same journal

Biosimilars in allergology: an outline in pediatric patients.

Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology·2026
Same journal

The immunogenetic landscape of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology·2026
Same journal

Circadian control of innate immunity: molecular mechanisms and implications for allergic disorders.

Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology·2026
Same journal

Probiotics in allergic disease: from adjunct supplement to immune-modifying strategy (2026 update).

Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology·2026
Same journal

Updates on drug-induced anaphylaxis in children.

Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology·2026
Same journal

Beta-lactam de-labelling as a core antimicrobial stewardship strategy in the era of the antimicrobial resistance pandemic: a narrative review.

Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology·2026
See all related articles

Discontinuing venom immunotherapy requires careful consideration due to potential life-threatening sting reactions. While 5 years of treatment is often successful, some patients, especially those with severe reactions, may need lifelong therapy for sting allergy management.

Area of Science:

  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is used to treat life-threatening sting allergies.
  • Discontinuation of VIT requires careful clinical judgment due to potential for severe reactions.
  • Risk of recurrence is multifactorial, involving reaction frequency and severity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of discontinuing venom immunotherapy.
  • To identify risk factors for relapse after VIT cessation.
  • To inform clinical decision-making regarding VIT duration.

Main Methods:

  • Review of early studies on VIT discontinuation after 3 years.
  • Analysis of outcomes for patients stopping VIT after 5 years, regardless of test results.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Long-term follow-up of systemic reaction incidence after treatment cessation.

    • Main Results:

    • Relapse rates of 8-14% were observed in some studies after 3 years of VIT.
    • Stopping VIT after 5 years, irrespective of skin test results, showed comparable success to 3-year protocols.
    • Most post-treatment reactions were milder; no rebound hypersensitivity was noted.
    • Venom-specific IgE antibody levels were better suppressed after 5 years than 3 years of treatment.
    • Higher relapse risk observed in honeybee-allergic patients and those with systemic reactions during therapy.
    • Patients with severe pre-treatment reactions may require lifelong therapy.
    • Systemic reaction incidence remained ~10% per sting, even 10-15 years post-treatment.
    • Cumulative sting reaction frequency reached ~17% after 10 years off treatment.
    • Negative venom skin tests did not guarantee safety, with similar reaction rates in those losing sensitivity.

    Conclusions:

    • Discontinuing venom immunotherapy after 5 years is a viable option for many patients.
    • Lifelong therapy may be necessary for individuals with a history of severe reactions or specific allergies.
    • Long-term sting risk persists even after successful venom immunotherapy and negative tests.