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High Rate of Latex Allergy in Health-Care Workers: Presented at EAACI

By Jill Stein

PARIS, FRANCE -- June 12, 2003 -- Nearly 25% of surgeons, anaesthesiologists and nurses develop allergy to natural-rubber latex gloves, according to a study reported here June 10^th at the 22^nd Congress of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology.

Lawrence M. DuBuske, MD, from the Immunology Research Institute of New England, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, led a team that analysed questionnaires completed by 213 physicians and nurses working in a surgical unit who used latex gloves for at least 6 months. All study participants worked at a hospital in southern Russia.

Of the 48 subjects who had typical IgE-mediated symptoms of sensitivity to latex ("latex-history positive"), 93.8% reported symptoms consistent with contact urticaria, 29.2% had respiratory symptoms associated with latex exposure, and 14.5% had marked symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis after exposure to latex.

Overall, 66.7% of subjects who were latex-history positive had a history of prior allergic diseases compared with 45.8% who had symptoms suggesting contact dermatitis associated with the use of latex gloves ("latex-contact dermatitis reactive") and 31.9% of persons who had no symptoms when using latex gloves.

In the latex allergy-positive cohort, 41% had seasonal allergic rhinitis, 6% had asthma, 38% had perennial allergic rhinitis, 28% had hives or angioedema, 59% had drug allergy, 31% had food allergy, 3% had anaphylactic shock, and 62% had a combination of several preexisting allergic diseases.

"Prolonged and frequent contact with natural-rubber latex gloves may produce skin and respiratory symptoms of allergy, particularly in persons with a history of allergic diseases," Dr. DuBuske concluded.

Since latex allergy was first described in 1979, IgE-mediated allergy to natural-rubber latex proteins has become an important medical and occupational problem for an increasing number of people, this study pointed out. During the 1980s, the use of latex medical products increased tremendously in response to autoimmune-deficiency syndrome and the general recognition that likely sources of transfer of infectious agents included contact with body fluids. The sudden increase in demand for latex products, especially latex gloves, among health care workers, increased the appearance of latex allergy in this high-risk group, Dr. DuBuske said.


[Study title: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of latex allergy in health care workers from southern Russia. Abstract 1244.]

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