title: Rubber-specific IgE in children with spina bifida.
abstract: We attempted to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of rubber-specific IgE in a prospective case control study of 32 preoperative children with spina bifida, compared with 45 outpatient controls and 35 age-matched preoperative controls without spina bifida. A latex-specific radioallergosorbent test was positive in 11 of the 32 spina bifida patients (34%), compared with 1 (2%) and 4 (11%) of the respective controls (p less than 0.05). Within the spina bifida group 5 of 11 antibody-positive patients had a history of rubber-associated, intraoperative or otherwise idiopathic allergic episodes and 1 of 21 antibody-negative patients gave such a history (p = 0.012). Children with spina bifida have a significantly greater likelihood than controls of having IgE specific for rubber antigens. In addition, the presence of rubber-specific IgE is associated with a higher frequency of rubber-associated, intraoperative or idiopathic allergic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20010.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mostello
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shaer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012408:Rubber; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D012408:Rubber