Spiking venom with rVes v 5 improves sensitivity of IgE detection in patients with allergy to Vespula venom

摘要

To the Editor:Diagnosis of yellow jacket (Vespula ssp) venom allergy is based on a history of anaphylactic sting reactions, positive skin test responses, and/or detection of specific IgE to yellow jacket venom (YJV). However, positive skin tests or serologic results obtained with conventional venom extracts do not always reflect a primary sensitization but may be caused by antibodies cross-reactive to homologous peptide sequences or to cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants. Additional value of IgE detection to cross-reactive carbohydrate determinant-free, species-specific recombinant (r) Hymenoptera venom allergens, such as rApi m 1, rVes v 1, and rVes v 5, has recently been reported in several studies. In patients with allergy to YJV, the diagnostic sensitivity of a combination of the currently available YJV allergens rVes v 5 and rVes v 1 has been reported to be as high as 92% to 96%, whereas the frequency of sensitization to rApi m 1 in patients with allergy to honeybee venom (HBV) appears to be lower, ranging from 58% to 80%, depending on the patient population studied.