Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis
Published on: May 31, 2021
Effectiveness of maintenance bee venom immunotherapy administered at 6-month intervals
Arnon Goldberg1, Ronit Confino-Cohen
1Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Meir Hospital, Kfar-Saba, Israel. arnong@clalit.org.il
Background:
Extension of the intervals at which maintenance venom immunotherapy (MVIT) is administered has been attempted for many years. However, published evidence on its effect, especially in intervals of longer than 3 months, is sparse.
Objective:
To examine whether the administration of a bee venom (BV) maintenance dose at 6-month intervals is safe and efficacious.
Methods:
The 3-month intervals at which venom-allergic patients were receiving their MVIT were gradually extended to 6 months. Systemic reactions (SRs) to immunotherapy injections or to field stings were regularly recorded. Patients who were allergic to BV alone or also to other venoms were deliberately sting challenged by a honeybee after reaching the 6-month interval.
Results:
The 3-month intervals were extended in 47 patients. A single patient (2%) developed an SR after receiving the injection at an interval of 4 months. Two field stings in 2 patients resulted in a mild SR in 1 patient. Of 14 sting-challenged patients, 3 (21%) developed an SR after the challenge. The 3 SRs occurred only among the 8 patients (38%) who were allergic to BV alone. The 3 patients with the SR to the challenge continued to receive the regular maintenance dose at monthly intervals 3 to 5 more times. Repeated sting challenges were then well tolerated in all 3 patients.
Conclusion:
The administration of MVIT at 6-month intervals does not provide suitable protection in BV-allergic patients, and they should continue MVIT at the accepted 1- to 3-month intervals.