2. Background
Common Antigens in Latex
Epidemiology
Clinical Manifestations
Diagnosis
Management
3. Natural Rubber : a processed plant
product derived from the “cytosol”, or
latex of rubber tree
Hevea brasiliensis
John W Yunginger. Natural Rubber Latex Allergy. In Middleton’s 7th Ed : 1019-1026 .
4. Ninety percent of harvested rubber was
made into dry sheets for rubber thread
products etc.
The remaining, dipped product, is non-
coagulated and ammoniated made for
rubber gloves, condom & balloons
Most of allergic reactions are from dipped
products
John W Yunginger. Natural Rubber Latex Allergy. In Middleton’s 7th Ed : 1019-1026
5. Rubber gloves is processed by adding various
compounds :accelerators, antioxidants, &
secondary preservatives
Emulsion of cornstarch & coagulant are also
used
Protein content of raw latex is about 15 mg/ml
- Latex functional unit is cis-1,4-polyisoprene,
providing structural integrity ( 60%)
- Latex cytosol contains enzymes ( 40%)
John W Yunginger. Natural Rubber Latex Allergy. In Middleton’s 7th Ed : 1019-1026
6. Balloon
Bandages ( adhesive)
Blood pressure cuffs
Condoms
Dental dam
Diaphragms
Elastic
Gloves
Pacifiers
Tourniquets
Adapted from American Latex Allergy Association .
http://www.latexallergyresources.org/topics/. Accessed on Oct
28,2012
7. General population incidence is 1-2 %
High risk group
- patient with spina bifida, the highest
incidence 20-67 %
- health care workers especially working in operating
room, laboratories, or hemo-dialysis centre
- atopic patient
- patient with multiple surgeries
- hand dermatitis
- food associated latex allergy
Teylor JS, Erek E. Latex allergy: diagnosis and management. Dermatol Ther. 2004; 17(4):289-301
Wakelin SH, White IR. Natural rubber latex allergy. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1999; 24(4):245-248
8. Adapted from American Latex Allergy Association .
http://www.latexallergyresources.org/topics/.
Accessed on Oct 28,2012
9. Proteins present in raw latex & rubber products
Leached from rubber gloves by skin moisture
Be adsorbed to powder inside gloves,
becoming airborne
Respirable particles can be shed from
powder-free latex gloves
FDA :
Powder glove ; < 120 mg of powder
Powder-free glove ; < 2 mg of powder
Occup Environ Med 2001; 58:479-481
13. Material & Method
- Health care worker have used gloves
- Fujita Health University Hospital
- SPT with NRL glove extracts & recombinant
allergens
- Diagnosis : symptom when expose to latex
& SPT + or NRL glove-use test +
- Extract of glove : 1 gm into 5ml of phosphate
buffer saline Ph 7.2
- Measure allergen by ASTM D 5712-95 method
- FITkit used to calculate individual allergen
Allergology International 2009;58:347-355
21. Hev b 6.02 is the most common allergen
among HCWs sensitized occupationally
22.
23. To analyze the prevalence of latex allergy
To describe characteristics of health care
worker who has latex allergy
24. A self-administered questionnaire : work
activity, history of symptoms, allergic
reaction to latex products
Skin prick test : commercial latex extracts
Serum specific IgE to latex
34. Study the prevalence of latex-related
symptoms
Study latex-sensitization
Study risk factors
J Med AssoThai 2011; 94(Suppl. 3): S1-S8
35. A cross-sectional study
Dental students
Faculty of dentistry, Chulalongkorn
University
Dec 2007-May 2008
Questionnaires
Skin prick test ; using 3 latex extracts
prepared from Proglove, Doctor Plus gloves
& a commercial latex allergen(Stallergens,
France)
J Med AssoThai 2011; 94(Suppl. 3): S1-S8
43. The prevalence of latex allergy is 5 %
Common signs & symptoms : pruritus,
eczema & contact urticaria
The latex sensitization rate was 14.2%
Risk factors : personal history of allergic
disease, duration & frequency of exposure
Primary prevention should be considered
J Med AssoThai 2011; 94(Suppl. 3): S1-S8
49. Rapidly increase of latex allergy from 0.5%
before 1980 to 20% in 2002 ( France)
Thirty percent of patients had history of
symptoms suggestive of latex sensitization
Some countries have implemented
reducing latex exposure, incidence
became decreased
Anesthesiology 2005 ; 102(5): 897-903
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2004;23(12):1133-43
58. Latex avoidance
- documentation of latex sensitization
- education
- provided non-latex gloves/materials
- labeling latex products
Latex-safe medical environment
- level of threshold limit for aeroallergen
< 0.6 ng/m3
Am J Public Health 1999;89: 1024
JACI 1998; 101: 24
59. Filon FL, Radman G.
Environ Med 2006;63:121
Objectives:
To evaluate incidence/prevalence of latex
related symptoms & latex sensitization
between pre & post implementation of
powder-free gloves with low latex release
60. Subjects : 1040 health care workers
At Triestle hospital, Italy
Base line 1997-1999 , follow up in 2000-2002
Evaluate : questionnaires, physical exam,
skin prick test & serum specific IgE antibody
Measure : prevalence of latex related
symptoms, sensitization
62. Participants characteristics who have
symptoms related to latex glove use
- work seniority
- work place ; OR, lab, surgery ward
- latex glove use per day
Odd ratio of possible risk factor and glove
related symptom
- SPT to latex
- SPT to inhalant allergen
- personal atopy
- family history of atopy
- being female
Environ Med 2006;63:121
65. Avoidance of unnecessary glove utility
Non-powder latex glove in all workers
Non-latex glove in sensitization workers
Stop worsening latex symptom
Prevent new case of sensitization
66. Subcutaneous immunotherapy with natural
rubber latex : decreases skin & respiratory
symptoms but induces systemic reaction
Sublingual immunotherapy with a
commercial NRL extract : safe &
efficacious ( pediatric patient)
JACI 2006; 6: 96
Euv Ann Allergy Clin Immunol 2008;40(4):142-147
67. Latex allergy increased in the past decades following
“ universal precaution” policy
High risk group are health care workers & patients with spina bifida
Latex gloves vary in their latex allergen & particles from powdered
latex gloves produce airborne latex allergen
Diagnosis requires history , SPT, latex-sIgE Ab
or challenge testing
Optimal management includes education & avoidance of latex
products