title: Incidence and risk factors for latent sensitization to chymopapain: predictive skin-prick tests in 700 candidates for chemonucleolysis.
abstract: Seven hundred patients were investigated prospectively before undergoing chemonucleolysis. A past history of allergy and/or previous exposure to papain, either in food, beverages or drugs, was sought, and a skin-prick test with chymopapain was performed. Based on the results obtained, the subjects were classified into four groups: Group I--225 non-atopic non-papain-exposed subjects; Group II--285 non-atopic papain-exposed subjects; Group III--69 atopic non-papain-exposed subjects; and Group IV--121 atopic papain-exposed subjects. Latent sensitization to papain was observed in 0.4% of subjects in Group I, 3.16% in Group II, 5.8% in Group III and 7.4% in Group IV. The odds ratios were 13.8 for atopy and 7.3 for exposure to papain. Interaction between atopy and papain exposure did not result in a significantly greater risk. Neither sex nor age nor a history of a previous drug reaction were risk factors. Only one patient out of the 23 who were sensitive to papain had no risk factor. The 677 skin-test negative patients then underwent chemonucleolysis and none of them had an anaphylactic reaction. This was significantly less frequent: (P = 0.04) than the incidence in a random population (0.45%). Prick tests performed 6 weeks and 6 months after chemonucleolysis revealed newly acquired sensitization in 36% of the patients. Atopy was not a risk factor for this event.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine D, Immunologie Clinique et Allergologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy-Hôpital de Brabois, Nancy-Vandoeuvre, France.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moneret-Vautrin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feldmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kanny
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pere
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007404:Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002917:Chymopapain