Successful desensitization of a patient with aplastic anemia to antithymocyte globulin.

Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is a polyclonal gamma immunoglobulin derived from either rabbit or equine serum that serves as therapy for aplastic anemia; however, ATG causes serum sickness in up to 70% and anaphylaxis in up to 5% of recipients. Intradermal (ID) skin testing has been the primary technique used to evaluate for a preexisting Gell and Coombs type I hypersensitivity reaction to ATG. There are no data reporting the predictive value of delayed reactions to ID testing on the risk of serum sickness.

Successful administration of a 1-day imported fire ant rush immunotherapy protocol.

Background: Young children with a history of systemic reactions to imported fire ant (IFA) stings are at substantial risk of recurrent stings because of their maturational inability to practice appropriate avoidance techniques.

Objective: To present 3 cases in which patients 36 months or younger completed a 1-day rush immunotherapy (RIT) protocol with IFA whole-body extract (WBE).

Methods: The 1-day RIT protocol used for these patients was modified from the Wilford Hall 2-day rush protocol previously published.

Effect of imported fire ant extract on the degradation of mountain cedar pollen allergen.

Background: Dust mite, cockroach, and mold extracts have been shown to contain proteases capable of degrading the proteins in other extracts. Loss of potency of allergens has been reported in mixtures containing cockroach and fungal extracts. Fire ant venoms consist of 90% to 95% n-alkyl and n-alkenyl piperidine alkaloids, which are not allergenic.