title: Natural rubber latex allergy is not a cause of sudden infant death.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The causes for sudden infant death (SID) remain unclear. As infants can become sensitized to NRL allergens by pacifiers and latex mattresses, we tried to establish whether there is a relationship between SID and natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined NRL-specific IgE concentrations in 112 unselected cases of SID by the CAP-FEIA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NRL-specific IgE could be detected only in 1 sample (0.64 kU/l; CAP class 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that NRL allergy is not a cause of SID.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutgesell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seubert
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saternus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000276:immunology; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology