Insect sting allergy: analysis of a cohort of patients who initiated venom immunotherapy from 1978 to 1986.

Background: The proper duration of venom immunotherapy remains uncertain.

Objective: We report our experience with a cohort of patients who started venom immunotherapy from 1978 to 1986.

Methods: In a midwestern allergy practice, the cohort of 204 stinging insect-allergic patients who commenced venom immunotherapy from 1978 to 1986 were identified and evaluated by retrospective chart analysis and patient telephone inquiry.

Results: Only 12 patients remain on venom treatment. The majority of patients have discontinued venom immunotherapy either by self-determination (35 patients) or upon physician advice (80 patients). There was no relationship between the severity of the initial sting reaction and the length of time patients received therapy. After cessation of venom treatment, there were 148 re-stings in 117 patients with only two re-sting reactions, both of which occurred in patients with severe initial sting reactions.

Conclusions: Most patients who have received four to 6 years of venom immunotherapy continue to tolerate insect stings after cessation of treatment.