EFFECTS OF PASSIVE ANTIBODY IN BEE VENOM ANAPHYLAXIS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 142  (1) , 1-7
Abstract
Twelve patients allergic to honeybees were challenged by injections of bee venom; 5 responded systemically to the venom, with symptoms ranging from angioedema to respiratory distress. These patients were given i.m. or i.v. infusions of .gamma.-globulin obtained from the plasma of hyperimmune beekeepers who had high levels of antibody to an allergen (phospholipase A) in the venom. At post-infusion, all 5 patients tolerated 1.5-5 times the venom dose that previously elicited adverse reactions. The quantity of passive Ig[immunoglobulin]G antibody infused did not impair the patient''s own immune response to venom. There apparently is a direct role for IgG blocking antibodies in clinical protection against anaphylaxis occurring as a result of parenteral antigenic challenge as may be observed in penicillin and insect hypersensitivity.