Hypersensitivity to natural latex.
Rubber hypersensitivity is well described but usually as a contact dermatitis caused by chemicals added during the process of making natural latex or synthetic rubber. IgE-mediated reactions, mainly contact urticaria, have rarely been reported in Europe. We report a case of immediate hypersensitivity to latex. A 34-year-old female operating room nurse developed hand eczema to natural latex. On two occasions, while she was gloving for surgery, she had the following reactions: flushing, tachycardia, urticaria, angioedema, wheezing, and light-headedness. Prick and patch testing to thiuram mix, mercaptobenzothiazole, phenylenediamine mix, and carbamate mix (common rubber additives) were negative. Prick tests to natural latex elicited a 4+ reaction associated with immediate flushing, tachycardia, urticaria, and light-headedness. Five control subjects did not react. IgE antibodies to latex by RAST demonstrated 17.7% binding (control, 4%). This case demonstrates that natural latex can cause IgE-mediated symptoms. The route of exposure was cutaneous absorption of relevant latex allergens. As the use of latex rubber products continues to escalate, more cases are likely to occur.[1]References
- Hypersensitivity to natural latex. Spaner, D., Dolovich, J., Tarlo, S., Sussman, G., Buttoo, K. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. (1989) [Pubmed]
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