Latex allergy: new insights to explain different sensitization profiles in different risk groups.
BACKGROUND
Differences in latex allergen sensitization profiles have been described between children subjected to repetitive surgical interventions and health care workers (HCW). 'Major' allergens for patients with spina bifida are Hev b 1, 3 and 7, while for HCW, 'major' allergens are Hev b 2, 5, 6.01 and 13. The reason for these differential sensitization profiles is currently unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate latex allergen profiles on internal and external surfaces of natural rubber latex gloves.


METHODS
Eighty-two samples of commonly used surgical gloves (41 glove brands) were used for analysis. Specific allergen levels of Hev b 1, 3, 5 and 6.02 on both surfaces of the gloves were quantified using an enzyme immunometric assay, a FITkit (FIT Biotech, Tampere, Finland).


RESULTS
Differences in allergen levels were observed between internal and external surfaces of all glove types. Concentrations of Hev b 1 and Hev b 3 were significantly higher on external surfaces, while internal surfaces had higher allergen levels of Hev b 5 and Hev b 6.02. Analysis of surgical and examination gloves, powdered and nonpowdered gloves also showed that the content of Hev b 5 and Hev b 6.02 was significantly higher on internal surfaces while that of Hev b 1 and Hev b 3 was higher on external surfaces.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed different allergen profiles on internal and external surfaces of natural rubber latex gloves. These results may suggest a relationship between latex allergen localization and sensitization routes in different risk groups.
Peixinho
C
C
CICS - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal.
Tavares-Ratado
P
P
Tomás
M R
MR
Taborda-Barata
L
L
Tomaz
C T
CT
D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
D007073:Immunoglobulin E