title: Risk factors for latex sensitization in young children with myelomeningocele. Clinical article.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with myelomeningoceles (MMCs) are at increased risk of latex allergy and sensitization. Number of surgeries and history of atopy are known risk factors. The object of this study was to evaluate the role of diagnostic procedures and nonsurgical treatments in latex sensitization in young patients with MMC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three children with MMC were included in the study. For each child a questionnaire was administered and serum determination of IgE was performed, and 62 children underwent skin prick tests (SPTs), 60 of which had reliable results. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was performed, using latex sensitization as the dependent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 73 patients was 3.8 years. The SPT results were positive in 30.6%, whereas results of testing for latex-specific IgE were positive in only 8.2%. In univariate analysis, history of untethering, barium enema, and number of clean intermittent catheterizations (CICs) per day were significantly associated with positive results on the SPT. Although the number of surgical procedures was significantly higher in patients who had shunts, no significant relationship between the presence of a shunt and latex sensitization was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The young age of the patients in this study may account for the low prevalence of latex sensitization that was found. In young patients with MMC, the numbers of CICs per day, a history of untethering, circumcision, and a barium enema performed without latex-free equipment could be risk factors for latex sensitization. The use of latex-free gloves in all procedures performed in these cases, nonlatex polyvinyl chloride catheters in CIC, and ordinary nonballoon tips in barium enemas could decrease the risk of sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majed
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nejat
authors.forename: Mostafa El
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Khashab
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tajik
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharagozloo
authors.forename: Mahboubeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baghban
authors.forename: Adeleh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sajjadnia
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E