Urine protein excretion after Hymenoptera sting

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Nephrology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Insect stings can elicit diverse physiological responses.
• The impact of hymenopteran stings on renal function, specifically albuminuria, is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of bee or wasp stings on urinary albumin excretion in healthy individuals.
• To determine if sting severity correlates with changes in albuminuria.

Main Methods:

• Urinary albumin excretion was measured over 7 days post-sting in 20 healthy volunteers using the Micral stick method.
• A control group of 17 volunteers without sting history was included for comparison.
• Allergic reactions were graded using the Müller scale.

Main Results:

• Mean urinary albumin excretion was similar between the sting group (11.1 mg/l) and the control group (8.7 mg/l).
• Three individuals in the sting group exhibited transient pathologic albuminuria (mean 37.2 mg/l), which normalized in two within two months.
• No correlation was found between sting severity (Müller scale) and albumin excretion levels.

Conclusions:

• Bee and wasp stings do not typically cause significant or persistent changes in urinary albumin excretion in healthy individuals.
• Transient albuminuria may occur but generally resolves spontaneously.
• Further research could explore potential long-term renal effects in susceptible populations or with multiple stings.