[Basophil degranulation test (BDT) as a parameter of hyposensitization with Hymenoptera venoms].

TL;DRAbstract

In a population of 24 insect sting allergy patients undergoing venom immunotherapy the basophil degranulation test (BDT) in the patient sera ("unwashed" BDT) and with washed leukocytes ("washed" BDT) after incubation with bee and wasp (yellow jacket) venom was performed before and during treatment. Venom specific IgE and IgG antibodies, detected by means of RAST, were also monitored. The "unwashed" BDT usually became negative within 6-9 months of beginning immunotherapy, whereas the IgE-RAST was still clearly positive. This was attributed to the blocking influence of the venom specific IgG antibodies induced by the venom therapy. In fact, at this time the BDT with "washed" blood leukocytes, i.e. after elimination of the serum antibodies, was generally still positive. Only during further immunotherapy did cellular sensitization in the "washed" BDT gradually disappear, whereas the IgE-RAST usually turned out weakly positive. A third of the patients showed simultaneously negative results

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