Detection of
IgE antibodies specific to honeybee or Vespula
venoms is an important criterium firstly for the diagnosis of sensitization and secondly for the indication for a specific
immunotherapy. Some authors recommend to postpone blood analysis after an
insect sting for a certain time because circulating
IgE antibodies might be consumed by the
allergic reaction, which would result in a false-negative test outcome. We investigated
IgE concentrations during the first weeks after an
insect sting in 31 patients with an unequivocal history of an
anaphylactic reaction after a honeybee (n = 13) or Vespula (n = 18)
sting. Blood samples for analysis of specific
IgE concentrations (CAP system, Pharmacia Diagnostics, Sweden) were collected within 2 weeks and 5+/-2 weeks after the
insect sting. 12/13 patients with
honeybee venom and 14/18 patients with Vespula
venom sensitization had CAP classes 1 or higher within the first 2 weeks. Those 5 patients with CAP class 0 within the first 2 weeks had detectable
IgE concentrations a few weeks later. We conclude that testing for specific
IgE to
hymenoptera venoms is in most cases useful even during the first 2 weeks after the hymenoptera
sting. This allows early decisions on further diagnostic procedures and the therapeutic way to choose. Patients with no detectable
IgE should, however, be retested after a few weeks.