[Insect hyposensitization using whole-body extract]

The following information was obtained through a control of 76 patients allergic to insect bites who were treated with whole body extract (WBE): The reaction to insect sting was light in 11 patients, intermediate in 31, and severe in 28, while 6 patients developed only extreme local reactions. In 17% of the cases, systemic reactions occurred during skin testing. No statistically significant correlation existed between the severity of the reactions to stings in the patients' history and the skin test results, but such a significant correlation could be found between history of sting reactions and serum antibodies. Hyposensitization, 25% of the patients showed systemic reactions mostly in the first months of therapy. In a posttherapeutic repetition of the skin test with WBE in 40 patients, no statistically significant change in skin sensitivity could be found. Additionally, 27 patients were tested posttherapeutically with venom. No statistical correlation could be found between WBE and venom skin test. 38 patients have been stung at least once since the beginning of therapy. 24 of these (63%) showed no reaction, 10 (26%) developed a weaker reaction by at least one grade, and 4 (10%) reacted just as before therapy. This makes an overall success rate of 90%.