TY - JOUR
T1 - New insights on latex allergy diagnosis and treatment
AU - Patriarca, Giampiero
AU - Nucera, Eleonora
AU - Buonomo, Alessandro
AU - Roncallo, Chiara
AU - De Pasquale, Tiziana Maria Angela
AU - Pollastrini, Emanuela
AU - Schiavino, Domenico
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Because of widespread latex manufacturing in the last decades, exposure to latex has become ever greater, as has the incidence of latex allergy among the general population as well as the high-risk groups. Clinical manifestations range from local reactions (edema, itching, erythema, and papulae), rhino-conjunctivitis, asthma, pharyngeal edema, to severe systemic reactions such as anaphylactic shock (from parenteral exposure especially during medical examinations or surgical procedures). Diagnosis is formulated on the basis of the personal history and an accurate allergological evaluation. Patients usually have a history of food intolerance or adverse reactions during medical or surgical procedures, which are believed to be the result of anesthetics or other drugs. In vivo tests are prick and patch tests and challenge tests. Challenge tests (nasal, conjunctival, bronchial, intravaginal, sublingual, oral, and cutaneous tests) are important for confirming the diagnosis, for evaluating a patient's response to the different kinds of latex exposure, and for verifying the effects of desensitizing treatments on the various organs involved in latex allergy. The most important in vitro test is the specific anti-natural rubber latex IgE assay. The only effective resolution to the latex allergy problem seems to be desensitization. The criteria of effectiveness are the capability to use latex items, to undergo medical examinations (even invasive), and to remain in an environment where latex particles can be inhaled (such as surgical departments), without symptoms. The first attempts were performed by subcutaneous administration of latex, but this protocol seems to be delicate to perform because of the side effects. Two different alternative methods (percutaneous and sublingual) were successfully performed and proved to be safer and more effective, even though further studies on a larger group of patients are needed.
AB - Because of widespread latex manufacturing in the last decades, exposure to latex has become ever greater, as has the incidence of latex allergy among the general population as well as the high-risk groups. Clinical manifestations range from local reactions (edema, itching, erythema, and papulae), rhino-conjunctivitis, asthma, pharyngeal edema, to severe systemic reactions such as anaphylactic shock (from parenteral exposure especially during medical examinations or surgical procedures). Diagnosis is formulated on the basis of the personal history and an accurate allergological evaluation. Patients usually have a history of food intolerance or adverse reactions during medical or surgical procedures, which are believed to be the result of anesthetics or other drugs. In vivo tests are prick and patch tests and challenge tests. Challenge tests (nasal, conjunctival, bronchial, intravaginal, sublingual, oral, and cutaneous tests) are important for confirming the diagnosis, for evaluating a patient's response to the different kinds of latex exposure, and for verifying the effects of desensitizing treatments on the various organs involved in latex allergy. The most important in vitro test is the specific anti-natural rubber latex IgE assay. The only effective resolution to the latex allergy problem seems to be desensitization. The criteria of effectiveness are the capability to use latex items, to undergo medical examinations (even invasive), and to remain in an environment where latex particles can be inhaled (such as surgical departments), without symptoms. The first attempts were performed by subcutaneous administration of latex, but this protocol seems to be delicate to perform because of the side effects. Two different alternative methods (percutaneous and sublingual) were successfully performed and proved to be safer and more effective, even though further studies on a larger group of patients are needed.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Allergens
KW - Child
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Desensitization, Immunologic
KW - Female
KW - Hevea
KW - Humans
KW - Hypersensitivity, Immediate
KW - Infant
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Latex Hypersensitivity
KW - Skin Tests
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Allergens
KW - Child
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Desensitization, Immunologic
KW - Female
KW - Hevea
KW - Humans
KW - Hypersensitivity, Immediate
KW - Infant
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Latex Hypersensitivity
KW - Skin Tests
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/26092
M3 - Article
SN - 1018-9068
VL - 12
SP - 169
EP - 176
JO - JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIONAL ALLERGOLOGY & CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
JF - JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIONAL ALLERGOLOGY & CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
ER -