Prevalence of venom allergy and Mastocytosis in the United States

Published: April 22, 2021
 
A life-threatening allergic reaction to bee stings can be the first manifestation of mastocytosis, a bone marrow disorder that causes a range of symptoms, including higher risk of fatal reactions. In a recent research article in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), Schuler et. al examined approximately 27 million United States patients through an insurance database. They analyzed how many patients had allergies to bee and wasp stings, or hymenoptera venom, as well as mastocytosis. The study also included a five-year analysis of patients with history of severe venom allergy who underwent venom desensitization immunotherapy at Michigan Medicine. Michigan Medicine is a leading mastocytosis referral center.
 
Schuler et. al found fewer than 0.1% of all venom allergy patients in the database also suffer from mastocytosis. However, patients with venom allergy were still nearly 10 times more likely to receive the diagnosis of mastocytosis than those without such allergies, suggesting physicians should look for the disorder in patients with venom allergies, especially in those with severe reactions.

The findings revealed a lower prevalence of mastocytosis in venom allergy patients in the U.S. than in Europe, which may indicate differences in sensitization patterns to bee and wasp venoms. The research team found that elevated levels of tryptase, a chemical secreted by allergy cells, may predict if a person is at higher risk for reaction to venom immunotherapy. Knowing this, allergists can be more alert during sessions and watch for systemic reactions.
 
This study creates a picture of the burden of these conditions and will inform both future research and public policy decisions in the field moving forward.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) is an official scientific journal of the AAAAI, and is the most-cited journal in the field of allergy and clinical immunology.

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