Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2010 Dec;30(4):325-328.

A Case of Serum Sickness Reaction Caused by Honeybee Acupuncture

Abstract

Apitoxin, honeybee venom, is used in alternative medicine as a treatment option for arthritis and chronic pain because it is reported to have an anti-inflammatory property. Hypersensitivity responses to bee venom range from local reaction to life-threatening anaphylaxis, and most of them present in a few hours after exposure to bee venom. Delayed-type allergic reactions have been reported, although unusual, such as serum sickness. We describe a 47-year-old woman who had serum sickness reaction 7 days after undergoing honeybee acupuncture to relieve her back pain. She complained of maculopapular skin rash, fever, arthralgia and myalgia. High levels of specific IgE and IgG to honeybee venom were observed by immunoCAP. We report herein the first case of serum sickness reaction developed after bee venom acupuncture.

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture
Anaphylaxis
Arthralgia
Arthritis
Back Pain
Bee Venoms
Chronic Pain
Complementary Therapies
Exanthema
Female
Fever
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin G
Middle Aged
Serum Sickness
Venoms
Bee Venoms
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin G
Venoms