Efficacy and safety of honeybee and wasp tyrosine-adsorbed venom immunotherapy

Maurizio Severino; Livio Simioni; Patrizia Bonadonna; Renato Cantone; Gabriele Cortellini; Stefano Crescioli; Anna D'Angelo; Luigi La Rosa; Donatella Macchia; Irene Martignago; Alessandro Massolo; Federico Reccardini; Diego Bagnasco; Giovanni Passalacqua

doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2019.100086

Efficacy and safety of honeybee and wasp tyrosine-adsorbed venom immunotherapy

World Allergy Organ J. 2019 Nov 19;12(12):100086. doi: 10.1016/j.waojou.2019.100086. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Anallergo S.p.A, Florence, Italy.
² Allergy Unit, Medicine Department, Ospedale S.Maria del Prato, AULSS 1 Dolomiti Regione Veneto, Feltre, Italy.
³ Allergy Dept, Integrated University-Hospital of Verona, Italy.
⁴ Allergy Unit, ASL, Novara, Italy.
⁵ Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Dept, Rimini Hospital, Rimini, Italy.
⁶ Allergy Unit, Bassano del Grappa, Italy.
⁷ Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Ospedale s. Giovanni di Dio, Florence, Italy.
⁸ Ethology Unit, Dept of Biology, University of Pisa, Italy.
⁹ UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-environnement, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
¹⁰ Dept of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
¹¹ Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine SOC Pneumologia - Fisiopatologia Respiratoria, Udine, Italy.
¹² Allergy and Respiratory Diesases, IRCCS Policlinico San Martino, University of Genoa, L.go R.Benzi 10, 16133, Genoa, Italy.

Abstract

Introduction: It is acknowledged that any claim of efficacy of allergen immunotherapy must be done for each specific product, and this remains true also for venom immunotherapy (VIT). Thus, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a specific tyrosine-adsorbed VIT for vespula spp. and honeybee in real-life.

Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with hymenoptera allergy, and receiving VIT for either vespula or honeybee with a tyrosine-adsorbed preparation were observed to evaluate the grade of reaction (according to Muller) at the first field re-sting. A modified ultra-rush protocol was used.

Results: A total of 247 patients (73 female) were observed (102 honeybee, group H, 145 vespula, group V). Seventy-five patients in group H had a re-sting, and 74/75 had a lower grade reaction at re-sting as compared to the pre-VIT reaction. Considering systemic reactions, protection was achieved in 89% of patients. In group V 118 patients were re-stung, and 76/118 patients with previous grade III-IV reaction had no more systemic reaction under VIT. Overall, considering systemic reactions, protection was achieved in 92% of subjects. Of note, in both groups there was a clear inverse correlation between the severity of pre-VIT and during VIT reactions. The duration of VIT at the time of re-sting did not affect the efficacy. The safety was overall good, with 18% ad 15.4% local reactions in groups H and V, respectively.

Discussion: Modified extracts, including tyrosine-absorbed, have the aim of improving the safety of VIT still yet maintaining the efficacy. Field re-sting is the best way to assess the efficacy in real life. In this observational study we could confirm the protective efficacy of the tyrosine-adsorbed extract, with a good safety expecially in the build-up using a modified-rush protocol.

Conclusion: The tyrosine-adsorbed VIT used herein is a viable and advantageous form of treatment for hymenoptera allergy.

Keywords: Efficacy; Field re-sting; HVA, hymenoptera venom allergy; Hymenoptera venom allergy; SR, systemic reaction; Safety; Systemic reaction; Tyrosine adsorbed; VIT, venom immunotherapy; Venom immunotherapy; t-VIT, tyrosine-adsorbed venom immunotherapy.