Journal of Asthma and Allergy (Jan 2020)
Clinical Utility of Rush Venom Immunotherapy: Current Status
Abstract
Vianney Gruzelle,1 Claire Mailhol,2,3 David W Waters,4 Laurent Guilleminault2,4 1Department of Paediatric Pneumology and Allergology, University Hospital Centre of Toulouse, Toulouse, France; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergic Diseases, University Hospital Centre of Toulouse, Toulouse, France; 3Mastocytosis Reference Centre and Dermatology Department, University Hospital Centre of Toulouse, Toulouse, France; 4Center for Pathophysiology Toulouse Purpan, INSERM U1043, CNRS UMR 5282, Toulouse III University, Toulouse, FranceCorrespondence: Laurent GuilleminaultDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Allergic Diseases Hôpital Larrey, 24 Chemin De Pouvourville, Toulouse TSA 30030, FranceTel +335 67 77 18 50Fax +335 67 77 14 72Email [email protected]: Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) is the leading cause of anaphylactic reactions in adults and the second most common cause in children. Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is used to elicit an immune tolerance against hymenoptera venom in allergic patients and is based on the administration of purified venom extracts regularly for defined periods. The protocols of administration include 2 phases: an up-dosing phase that incrementally reaches the final dose resulting in a protective effect, and a maintenance phase in order to obtain the sustained effect. The goal of this review is to detail the efficacy and the safety of the up-dosing phase also named rush. Pathophysiological mechanisms, indications of VIT and technical aspects of up-dosing protocol are also covered.Keywords: hymenoptera, allergy, immunotherapy
