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Are anaphylactic reactions to snake bites immunoglobulin E-mediated?
Clin Exp Allergy. 2000 Feb; 30(2):276-82.CE

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Bites by poisonous European snakes of the genus Vipera lead to local tissue damage and systemic symptoms such as generalized oedema, hypotension, gastrointestinal symptoms, haemolysis and renal dysfunction. Not rarely anaphylactic symptoms like urticaria, localized angioedema and asthma are observed.

OBJECTIVE

To look for snake venom-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies in patients with a history of bites by European vipers and for cross-reactions with Hymenoptera venoms, that have a similar composition.

METHOD

Ten patients with a history of bites by Vipera aspis or Vipera berus were investigated. Three patients had been bitten only once, and two of these had developed only local reactions. Four reported previous allergic reactions to Hymenoptera stings. All patients, 10 Hymenoptera venom-allergic and five nonallergic individuals who served as controls underwent i.c. skin test endpoint titration with snake (V. aspis, V. berus) and Hymenoptera venoms (honey bee, Vespula spp.) and were investigated for specific serum IgE antibodies to the same venoms.

RESULTS

Seven of the eight patients with systemic snake bite reactions had both positive skin tests and serum IgE antibodies to snake venoms, while these tests were negative in the two patients with only local reactions to snake bites and all controls. Seven of the eight patients with systemic snake bite reaction also had positive skin tests and specific IgE with one or both Hymenoptera venoms. By RAST-inhibition with sera of four patients with high IgE to both Vipera and Hymenoptera venoms, partial cross-reactivity could be demonstrated in one.

CONCLUSIONS

Anaphylactic reactions following snake bites may be IgE-mediated, especially in patients with repeated bites.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Reimers AR
Medical Division, Zieglerspital Bern, Switzerland.
Weber M
No affiliation info available
Müller UR
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAnaphylaxisAnimalsBee VenomsCross ReactionsHumansHymenopteraImmunoglobulin EMaleMiddle AgedSkin TestsSnake BitesViper VenomsViperidae

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

10651780

Citation

Reimers, A R., et al. "Are Anaphylactic Reactions to Snake Bites Immunoglobulin E-mediated?" Clinical and Experimental Allergy : Journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 30, no. 2, 2000, pp. 276-82.
Reimers AR, Weber M, Müller UR. Are anaphylactic reactions to snake bites immunoglobulin E-mediated? Clin Exp Allergy. 2000;30(2):276-82.
Reimers, A. R., Weber, M., & Müller, U. R. (2000). Are anaphylactic reactions to snake bites immunoglobulin E-mediated? Clinical and Experimental Allergy : Journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 30(2), 276-82.
Reimers AR, Weber M, Müller UR. Are Anaphylactic Reactions to Snake Bites Immunoglobulin E-mediated. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000;30(2):276-82. PubMed PMID: 10651780.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Are anaphylactic reactions to snake bites immunoglobulin E-mediated? AU - Reimers,A R, AU - Weber,M, AU - Müller,U R, PY - 2000/1/29/pubmed PY - 2000/3/18/medline PY - 2000/1/29/entrez SP - 276 EP - 82 JF - Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology JO - Clin Exp Allergy VL - 30 IS - 2 N2 - BACKGROUND: Bites by poisonous European snakes of the genus Vipera lead to local tissue damage and systemic symptoms such as generalized oedema, hypotension, gastrointestinal symptoms, haemolysis and renal dysfunction. Not rarely anaphylactic symptoms like urticaria, localized angioedema and asthma are observed. OBJECTIVE: To look for snake venom-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies in patients with a history of bites by European vipers and for cross-reactions with Hymenoptera venoms, that have a similar composition. METHOD: Ten patients with a history of bites by Vipera aspis or Vipera berus were investigated. Three patients had been bitten only once, and two of these had developed only local reactions. Four reported previous allergic reactions to Hymenoptera stings. All patients, 10 Hymenoptera venom-allergic and five nonallergic individuals who served as controls underwent i.c. skin test endpoint titration with snake (V. aspis, V. berus) and Hymenoptera venoms (honey bee, Vespula spp.) and were investigated for specific serum IgE antibodies to the same venoms. RESULTS: Seven of the eight patients with systemic snake bite reactions had both positive skin tests and serum IgE antibodies to snake venoms, while these tests were negative in the two patients with only local reactions to snake bites and all controls. Seven of the eight patients with systemic snake bite reaction also had positive skin tests and specific IgE with one or both Hymenoptera venoms. By RAST-inhibition with sera of four patients with high IgE to both Vipera and Hymenoptera venoms, partial cross-reactivity could be demonstrated in one. CONCLUSIONS: Anaphylactic reactions following snake bites may be IgE-mediated, especially in patients with repeated bites. SN - 0954-7894 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/10651780/Are_anaphylactic_reactions_to_snake_bites_immunoglobulin_E_mediated L2 - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=0954-7894&date=2000&volume=30&issue=2&spage=276 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -