Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture: An Effective Treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Kim, Jong Min; Jeon, Hyung-joon; Kim, Hyunji; Cho, Chong-Kwan; Yoo, Hwa‐Seung

doi:10.3831/kpi.2014.17.039

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Thus, melittin, a powerful anti-cancer peptide, might be a better choice than whole BV for treating various diseases. On the other hand, BV acupuncture and melittin have been used to control neuropathy caused by cancer chemotherapy [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Honey Bee Venom (Apis mellifera) Contains Anticoagulation Factors and Increases the Blood-clotting Time

2015

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Objectives:Bee venom (BV) is a complex mixture of proteins and contains proteins such as phospholipase and melittin, which have an effect on blood clotting and blood clots. The mechanism of action of honey bee venom (HBV, Apis mellifera) on human plasma proteins and its anti-thrombotic effect were studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-coagulation effect of BV and its effects on blood coagulation and purification.Methods:Crude venom obtained from Apis mellifera was selected. The anti-coagulation factor of the crude venom from this species was purified by using gel filtration chromatography (sephadex G-50), and the molecular weights of the anti-coagulants in this venom estimated by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Blood samples were obtained from 10 rabbits, and the prothrombin time (PT) and the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) tests were conducted. The approximate lethal dose (LD) values of BV were determined.Results:Crude BV increased the blood clotting time. For BV concentrations from 1 to 4 mg/mL, clotting was not observed even at more than 300 seconds, standard deviations (SDs) = ± 0.71; however, clotting was observed in the control group 13.8 s, SDs = ± 0.52. Thus, BV can be considered as containing anti-coagulation factors. Crude BV is composed 4 protein bands with molecular weights of 3, 15, 20 and 41 kilodalton (kDa), respectively. The LD50 of the crude BV was found to be 177.8 μg/mouse.Conclusion:BV contains anti-coagulation factors. The fraction extracted from the Iranian bees contains proteins that are similar to anti-coagulation proteins, such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and melittin, and that can increase the blood clotting times in vitro.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Honey Bee Venom (Apis mellifera) Contains Anticoagulation Factors and Increases the Blood-clotting Time

2015

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“…Kim et al . [ 12 ] shared bee venom therapy in treatment of complex regional pain syndrome. Our study 6% (3/54) allergy subjects were iatrogenic exposure, indicating cautious consideration of apitherapy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of sIgE/T-IgE in Predicting Systemic Reactions

Guan

Yin

2016

Chinese Medical Journal

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Background:Venom allergy is significantly underestimated in China. Venom-specific IgE may not provide accurate clinical reactions. Our conducted retrospective analysis observes alternative diagnostic considerations in assessing confirmation and severity of honeybee venom allergy.Methods:Retrospective review of honeybee venom allergy versus nonallergy patients presented with positive honeybee venom (i1) sIgE results. According to clinically observed reactions caused by a honeybee sting, patients were divided into three groups. Patient residence and exposure types were analyzed. The sIgE/T-IgE among allergy and control groups was compared.Results:Gender ratio male:female was 32:22; median age was 39 years (31, 50). 48% (26/54) of patients live in urban areas, 52% (28/54) in rural areas. Based on bee sting reactions, patients were divided into common localized reactions (32/54), large localized reactions (7/54), and systemic reactions (15/54). In the systemic reaction group, patients presented as Type II (6/15), Type III (6/15). There is significant difference (P < 0.001) between the three groups in regards to exposure types. In the systemic reaction group, 8.7% (13/15) of patients are beekeepers. A significant difference (P < 0.001) was observed between allergic and control groups based on sIgE/T-IgE results. As well as significant difference observed between the systemic reaction group to the other two reaction groups in regards to sIgE/T-IgE results. Six systemic reaction patients presented with large localized reactions before onset of system symptoms 1 month to 1 year of being stung.Conclusions:Occupational exposure is the most common cause in honeybee venom allergy induced systemic reactions. The use of sIgE/T-IgE results is a useful diagnostic parameter in determining honeybee venom allergy.

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“…One such case reported complete resolution of post-herpetic neuralgia after repeated treatments with bee venom [10]. Only one paper reported use of bee venom in a human subject with CRPS [2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The diagnosis of CRPS is made according to clinical examination and the Budapest Criteria; pain of disproportionate severity to the preceding trauma and no other diagnosis to better explain the presenting signs and symptoms, with features spreading proximally through the affected limb [1]. On reviewing CRPS literature only one reports the use of bee venom in humans with CRPS [2]. Our report describes the case of a 48-year-old malen diagnosed with CRPS following distal biceps tendon repair, who had a significant improvement in his symptoms following deliberate bee venom inoculation to the affected limb.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taking the sting out of CRPS: bee venom to treat complex regional pain syndrome

et al. 2016

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We describe the case of a 48-year-old right hand dominant male engineer diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome 4 months following surgical repair of a distal biceps tendon rupture. He reported significant improvement in CRPS symptoms following an accidental bee sting and sought deliberate bee venom (apitoxin) inoculation to the affected limb. A single report in the literature describes the use of bee venom to treat CRPS in a human. The components of apitoxin include adolapin, melittin, apamin, phospholipase A2, histamine and protease inhibitors. Melittin and apamin have roles in synaptic transmission modulation and cell lysis. Adolapin inhibits cyclooxygenase and has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effects. Further research is required into the components of apitoxin as a potential treatment for CRPS.

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Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture: An Effective Treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Cited by 16 publications

References 13 publications

Honey Bee Venom (Apis mellifera) Contains Anticoagulation Factors and Increases the Blood-clotting Time

Honey Bee Venom (Apis mellifera) Contains Anticoagulation Factors and Increases the Blood-clotting Time

Use of sIgE/T-IgE in Predicting Systemic Reactions

Taking the sting out of CRPS: bee venom to treat complex regional pain syndrome

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