DIAGNOSIS OF HYMENOPTERA HYPERSENSITIVITY BY SKIN TESTING WITH HYMENOPTERA VENOMS

[摘要] This double-blind study provides evidence that skin testing with dialyzed Hymenoptera venoms (HDV) is a more accurate, reliable method of diagnosing hypersensitivity to the sting of honeybee, yellow jacket, yellow hornet, white-faced hornet and wasp than is skin testing with the corresponding whole body diagnostic allergenic extract. The incidence of false-positives was greatly reduced by using the HDV diagnostic. In this clinical trial, most sensitive individuals had skin test reactions greater than the diluent control at concentrations of 1 .mu.g/ml or below. Levels of venom diagnostic of 100 .mu.g/ml appeared to produce nonspecific local irritation. Skin test with whole body diagnostic allergenic extract did not produce a consistent differentiation between sensitive and nonsensitive individuals. No adverse reactions were seen using the HDV diagnostic.