SummaryThere have been reports of elevated venom‐specific IgE levelsin post‐mortemsera frompatients experiencing fatal Hymenoptera stings so wehypothesized that other cases of sudden death may be due to unrecognized sting anaphyiaxis. Of 94 sera obtainedpost mortemfrom subjects who died unexpectedly during the summer months, 22 (23) contained elevated levels of IgE antibody to at least one insect venom. The causes of death as determined byautopsy did not differ significantly among patients with orwithout elevated IgE antibody levels. An identical percentage of seropositivity was noted in 48post‐mortemsera from victims of sudden, unexpected death in the winter months. Conversely, only 6 of sera from 92 living blood donors contained elevated venom‐specific IgE antibodies. The appreciable incidence of elevated IgE antibodies in thepost‐mortemgroups suggests that sting anaphylaxis should be more highly considered as a possible cause of unexpec
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