Lessons from times of shortage: Interchangeability of venom preparations and dosing protocols

Abstract

analysis of a cohort of 1058 patients. J Intern Med. 2015;277 (5):585-593. 5. Zingale LC, Beltrami L, Zanichelli A, et al. Angioedema without urticaria: a large clinical survey. CMAJ. 2006;175(9):1065-1070. 6. Du-Thanh A, Raison-Peyron N, Drouet C, Guillot B. Efficacy of tranexamic acid in sporadic idiopathic bradykinin angioedema. Allergy. 2010;65(6):793-795. 7. Cicardi M, Bergamaschini L, Zingale LC, Gioffré D, Agostoni A. Idiopathic nonhistaminergic angioedema. Am J Med. 1999;106(6):650-654. ACKNOWLEDG MENTSNone. CONFLI CTS OF INTERESTAT reports personal fees from ALK-Abelló. JS has no conflict of interest.

Tolerance of an immunotherapy switch between two aqueous hymenoptera venoms

“…The switch from the aqueous HBV and WV Venomil ® (Bencard Allergie GmbH, Munich, Germany) to the depot preparation Alutard ® (ALK-Abello Horsholm, Denmark) is mostly well tolerated. 1,2 However, a change to an aluminium-precipitated depot preparation is not suitable for all patients. 3 High-dose venom immunotherapy has not been evaluated specifically for aluminium toxicity.…”

“…To the Editor, Although the underlying pathogenesis of asthma is not fully understood, hyaluronan (HA) are thought to be associated with the persistence of symptoms. [1][2][3] Our genome-wide association study revealed that the hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) gene is a candidate for susceptibility to adult asthma. 2 HAS2 mainly generates high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA), which has anti-inflammatory effects.…”

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HA-binding proteins and a decrease of CD44 downregulates TGFβ. 1 The expression levels of Cd44, Tlr4, and Tgfb1 mRNA decreased significantly in the lungs from Has2 +/− -OVA mice compared with those from WT-OVA mice (Figure 1C, S1). The genetic modulation of Has2 did not affect the expression levels of Has2, Cd44, Tlr4, and Tgfb1 mRNA in the saline control group.

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Switch‐over from Pharmalgen to Alutard Bee and Wasp venom in the UK

“…Overall, however, the available safety data on transitioning from aqueous to depot venom preparations are reassuring. 7,8 The depot Alutard SQ product cannot be used for intradermal testing, due to the inclusion of aluminium hydroxide. Sensitization should, therefore, be confirmed using skin prick testing using an available commercial kit and serum specific IgE testing.…”

“…Such delayed reactions with alum‐based vaccines are uncommon and generally mild, although should be borne in mind when switching a patient from Pharmalgen to Alutard SQ. Overall, however, the available safety data on transitioning from aqueous to depot venom preparations are reassuring …”