[Insect sting allergy--indication of desensitization and problems in evaluating the therapy]

The hyposensitization in IgE-mediated insect venom reactions is presently the sole causal method of treatment. In more than 90% it is possible to prevent life-threatening anaphylactic reactions after insect stings. Essential, hitherto unresolved or only partly resolved questions include, for instance, objective parameters of success and, in this connection, the necessary duration of therapy. The determination and assessment of the course of specific IgE- and IgG-antibodies with the venom skin titration yield, for the single case, no absolutely safe information regarding the therapeutic effect. An alternative is the provocative sting under clinical conditions, the limitation chiefly results from personal and temporal restrictions.