Update on latex allergy: New insights into an old problem

Abstract

Despite the efforts made to mitigate the consequences of this disease, natural rubber latex allergy (NRLA) continues to be a global health problem and is still considered one of the main worries in the working environment in many countries throughout the world. Due to thousands of products containing latex, it is not surprising that the current statistics suggest that prevalence remains high among healthcare workers and susceptible patients. In developed countries, reduction in the prevalence of IgE-mediated allergy to latex proteins from gloves may lead to lax attention by health care personnel. On the other hand, this situation is different in developing countries where there is a lack of epidemiological data associated with a deficit in education and awareness of this issue. The aim of this review is to provide an update of the current knowledge and practical recommendations regarding NRLA by allergologists from different parts of the world with experience in this field.

Keywords: IgE mediated hypersensitivity; Latex; Management; Wordwide.

Fig. 1

Diagnostic serologic algorithm in suspected latex allergy. Modified reused with permission. ∗ Use of non-standardized NRL reagents may result in false positive test or even adverse allergic reactions. ∗ ∗Application of CCD tools [like horseradish peroxidase (HRP)] and/or inhibition studies with ‘cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants’ (CCD) to clarify protein epitopes (with clinical relevance) or the glyco-epitopes (with low clinical relevance)