ALI-2. Patients with a history of anaphylaxis: to beta block or not to beta block?Learning objectives were to recognize the importance of medication history in patients with anaphylaxis anaphylaxis (ăn'əfəlăk`sĭs), hypersensitive state that may develop after introduction of a foreign protein or other antigen into the body tissues. or on immunotherapy. A 39-year-old male with venom anaphylaxis from a single Honey Bee honey bee called also Apis mellifera. See also bee sting. sting 5 years prior presented to establish care. He continues to keep bees as a hobby. He received 5 years of venom immunotherapy venom immunotherapy A type of allergic desensitization therapy for Pts who are highly susceptible to hymenopteran venom . He also had liver cirrhosis liver cirrhosis (sirō´sis), n a degenerative disease of the liver in which hepatic tissue is replaced with connective tissue, commonly a result of chronic alcoholism. See jaundice. complicated by esophageal varices esophageal varices n. Longitudinal, superficial venous varices at the lower end of the esophagus that are prone to ulceration and massive bleeding. requiring beta-blocker treatment. On presentation he wanted advice on his immunotherapy. As for our patient, since he had been stung multiple times recently without reaction, and having completed 5 years of immunotherapy, he was able to be discontinued on immunotherapy and continue his beta-blocker. The true incidence of venom anaphylaxis and death is unknown however, at least 50 people die yearly. Venom immunotherapy is effective and statistically safe. Beta-blocker use in combination with epinephrine therapy has proven to be detrimental for anaphylaxis treatment. Standard of care is to not test or treat any patient with immunotherapy who is also on beta-blockers. In our patient though beta-blockers are indicated to prevent further morbidity from varices varices /var·i·ces/ (var´i-sez) [L.] plural of varix. Varices A type of varicose vein that develops in veins in the linings of the esophagus and upper stomach when these veins fill with blood and swell , they have the potential to produce interactions with his immunotherapy, a picture worsened by his reluctance to stop bee hiving. Management of his immunotherapy and liver disease Liver Disease Definition Liver disease is a general term for any damage that reduces the functioning of the liver. Description The liver is a large, solid organ located in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen. is complicated as he has two potentially fatal diseases requiring antagonistic treatments which are appropriate for decreasing the overall mortality. To our knowledge, there have not been any cases reported in which immunotherapy and beta blockers for varices management, have been used concomitantly. Though it is the standard of care not to use immunotherapy with beta-blockers, we recommend that management for each patient should be individualized, taking into consideration all the comorbidities and the informed understanding by the patient. James Byrd, MD, Mukta Panda, MD, and Hyman Kaplan MD. University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Unit, Chattanooga, TN. |
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