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Worm M, Höfer V, Dölle-Bierke S, Bilo MB, Hartmann K, Sabouraud-Leclerc D, Treudler R. Occupational anaphylaxis-Data from the anaphylaxis registry. Allergy 2024; 79:702-710. [PMID: 38093663 DOI: 10.1111/all.15974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiologic data on occupational anaphylaxis is scarce, and there is a need of more knowledge about work-related anaphylactic episodes. METHODS Based on the data of the Anaphylaxis Registry, we identified cases related to occupational exposure and analyzed the elicitors, demographics, severity of clinical reaction and management. RESULTS Since 2017, 5851 cases with an information about the occupational relation of the anaphylactic episode were registered whereby 225 (3.8%) were assigned to be caused by an occupational allergen. The vast majority of these occupational anaphylaxis cases were caused by insects (n = 186, 82.7%) followed by food (n = 27, 12.0%) and drugs (n = 8, 3.6%). Latex elicited occupational anaphylaxis in only two cases. Beekeepers, gardeners, farmers, and individuals working in professions associated with food handling, for example, employees in restaurants, bakery, pastry, and cooks were most frequently affected. The comparison of the occupational insect venom-induced anaphylaxis to a group of non-occupational insect anaphylaxis in adults (n = 1842) revealed a significant younger age in occupational anaphylaxis (46 vs. 53 years), a predominance of bee-induced cases (38% vs. 17%), and a higher rate of venom immunotherapy in a primary care setting (3.3% vs. 1.3%, p = .044). In the occupational- versus non-occupational adults with food-induced anaphylaxis atopic dermatitis as concomitant atopic disease was observed more frequently (n = 486; 20% vs. 10%), although this was not significant. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrate the impact of venom allergy in work-related anaphylaxis. Foods and drugs are less frequently elicitors, and latex-induced occupational anaphylaxis was rare. More data are needed to determine risk factors associated with occupational anaphylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margitta Worm
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Veronika Höfer
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabine Dölle-Bierke
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Beatrice Bilo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
- Allergy Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Torrette, Italy
| | - Karin Hartmann
- Division of Allergy, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Sabouraud-Leclerc
- Praticien Hospitalier, Pédiatre Allergologue, Service Pédiatrie A, Pôle Femme/Parents/Enfant, AMH 2, Reims, France
| | - Regina Treudler
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Ganseman E, Gouwy M, Bullens DMA, Breynaert C, Schrijvers R, Proost P. Reported Cases and Diagnostics of Occupational Insect Allergy: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010086. [PMID: 36613529 PMCID: PMC9820383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant part of adult-onset asthma is caused by occupational exposure to both high- and low-molecular-mass agents. Insects are occasionally described to cause occupational allergy in professions including anglers and fishers, laboratory workers, employees of aquaculture companies, farmers, bakers, sericulture workers and pet shop workers. Occupational insect allergies are often respiratory, causing asthma or rhinoconjunctivitis, but can be cutaneous as well. The European Union recently approved three insect species for human consumption, enabling an industry to develop where more employees could be exposed to insect products. This review overviews knowledge on occupational insect allergy risks and the tools used to diagnose employees. Despite the limited availability of commercial occupational insect allergy diagnostics, 60.9% of 164 included reports used skin prick tests and 63.4% of reports used specific IgE tests. In 21.9% of reports, a more elaborate diagnosis of occupational asthma was made by specific inhalation challenges or peak expiratory flow measurements at the workplace. In some work environments, 57% of employees were sensitized, and no less than 60% of employees reported work-related symptoms. Further development and optimization of specific diagnostics, together with strong primary prevention, may be vital to the health conditions of workers in the developing insect industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ganseman
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Research Group Immunity and Inflammation, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mieke Gouwy
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Research Group Immunity and Inflammation, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique M. A. Bullens
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christine Breynaert
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department General Internal Medicine–Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Schrijvers
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department General Internal Medicine–Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Research Group Immunity and Inflammation, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-16-37-90-20
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Long-term impact of hymenoptera venom immunotherapy on clinical course, immune parameters, and psychosocial aspects. Allergol Select 2021; 5:57-66. [PMID: 33521509 PMCID: PMC7841418 DOI: 10.5414/alx02175e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is highly efficient in subjects suffering from IgE-mediated allergy to hymenoptera venom (HV), and VIT results in substantial improvement of quality of life (QoL). However, VIT-induced tolerance may be lost over time after cessation of treatment, putting patients at risk of re-sting anaphylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS To study the effect of VIT on maintenance of HV tolerance we evaluated the natural history of 54 patients who were treated with VIT up to 29 years ago, with a special focus on re-stings and their subsequent course. Furthermore, we analyzed HV-specific IgE, IgG, and IgG4 antibody titers. Finally, we assessed the long-term impact of VIT on various psychosocial aspects like dealing with hymenoptera exposures, daily life activities, self-assurance, and personal environment. RESULTS 29 (53.7%) subjects experienced at least one re-sting after stopping VIT, with 23 (79%) showing no systemic reaction (SR). Eleven of these (37.9%) took emergency drugs as a safety measurement. Six individuals (21%) showed loss of tolerance experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. No difference in HV-specific IgE, IgG4, or IgG antibody concentrations was noticed among the different patients. Subjects who tolerated a re-sting without applying emergency drugs felt least affected in their social-behavioral leisure activities when hymenoptera were around or by anxiety for new stings. CONCLUSION VIT leads to long-term tolerance in the majority of HV-allergic patients, however, ~ 1/5 may lose protection over time, arguing for continued follow-up on VIT-treated subjects and keeping them equipped with an emergency kit. Notably, VIT also results in a lasting, strong impact on self-assurance and sense of well-being in individuals who tolerated a re-sting without employing emergency drugs, which emphasizes the need to use them only in case of systemic symptoms after stopping successful VIT.
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Zink A, Schuster B, Winkler J, Eyerich K, Darsow U, Brockow K, Eberlein B, Biedermann T. Allergy and sensitization to Hymenoptera venoms in unreferred adults with a high risk of sting exposure. World Allergy Organ J 2019; 12:100039. [PMID: 31312341 PMCID: PMC6610241 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2019.100039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hymenoptera venom sensitization in highly exposed individuals frequently requires risk assessment for future severe sting reactions. In this study, we determined the prevalence of Hymenoptera venom sensitization in individuals who hunt and fish and analyzed possible correlations between the severity of sting reactions and the IgE sensitization profile. Methods In this cross-sectional study, paper-based, self-filled questionnaires about previous insect stings and sting reactions were obtained from individuals who hunt and fish in Bavaria, Germany. Blood samples were taken and analyzed for the levels of tryptase, total IgE and IgE to honey bee (i1) and wasp (13) venom, the recombinant allergens rApi m 1, rApi m 2, rApi m 3, rApi m 5, rApi m 10, rVes v 1, rVes v 5, and the CCD marker molecule MUXF3. Odd ratios (ORs) for sensitization and anaphylaxis and Pearson's correlations for the different allergens were calculated. Results Of 257 participants, 50.2% showed a sensitization to honey bee venom (i1), and 58.4% showed sensitization to wasp venom (i3). A total of 98.4% of participants claimed to have been stung at least once. Anaphylaxis was reported in 18.7%, and a local sting reaction was reported in 18.3%. The highest sensitization rates were found for whole venom extracts, sensitization to any of the available recombinant allergens exceeded sIgE levels to honeybee venom (i1) in 28.5% and to wasp venom (i3) in 52.9% of participants. Participants with a history of more than 5 stings showed a higher risk for anaphylaxis. Conclusions Sensitization to Hymenoptera venom and their recombinant allergens are present in the majority of individuals who hunt and fish. Sensitization to distinct recombinant allergens does not necessarily affect the severity of sting reactions including anaphylaxis. A meticulous medical history of the number of previous stings as well as systemic reactions remains essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Zink
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Schuster
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Winkler
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kilian Eyerich
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulf Darsow
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Knut Brockow
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernadette Eberlein
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tilo Biedermann
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Anaphylaxis in the Workplace. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN ALLERGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40521-018-0155-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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