Effectiveness of VIT
The effectiveness of VIT can solely be monitored by the outcome of sting
challenges or field stings. Sting challenges were performed in 18
patients; 192 patients experienced field stings within the first year of
the maintenance phase. In total, 210 (17.7%) patients were stung, and
91.0% of patients tolerated the sting without systemic symptoms.
Thirty-four (16.2%) patients suffered from a LLR. Of the patients with
SSR, 12 experienced a grade I reaction, and among these, two took
β-blockers. Five patients had a grade II reaction, and one of them took
a β-blocker, while two had a Grade III reaction, and one patient took a
β-blocker. None of the patients with therapy failure took an ACEI. 191
patients tolerated the sting; among these, 20 (10.5%) took a β-blocker,
23 (12.0%) an ACEI, and 10 (5.2%) both drugs. Taking antihypertensive
drugs did not increase the risk for therapy failure (p=0.72).