Nasal and exhaled nitric oxide in response to occupational latex exposure.
BACKGROUND
Latex sensitivity is an increasing problem among health-care workers. Allergic responses are associated with changes in nitric oxide (NO) generation and the changes secondary to latex have not been described.


METHODS
A total of 22 subjects comprising equal numbers of control volunteers and subjects with self-reported latex sensitivity were recruited to undergo latex skin prick testing. Symptom scores, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), and nasal nitric oxide (nNO) were studied 1) before and after a controlled latex challenge (n=16), and 2) at the beginning and end of the working week, during exposure to latex (n=18).


RESULTS
Latex challenge caused a significant fall in nNO levels in latex-sensitive subjects, compared to normal control subjects (P=0.04). eNO levels also decreased in the latex-sensitive subjects after latex challenge, but to a lesser degree. There were no significant differences between the beginning and end of the working week in terms of eNO or nNO in either group, although symptom scores showed a nonsignificant increase in latex-sensitive subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Fall in nasal NO after latex challenge is associated with reported symptomatic latex sensitivity, and this corresponds to latex skin prick test positivity. Neither nNO nor eNO showed a clear relationship to routine workplace exposure.
Tan
K
K
Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Bruce
C
C
Birkhead
A
A
Thomas
P S
PS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007840:Latex / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D007840:Latex; D009569:Nitric Oxide