title: Latex-related allergy in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incidence of allergic reactions is increased in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the prevalence of latex allergy is not exactly known in HD patients. The aim of this present study is to determine the prevalence of latex allergy in HD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 205 adult HD patients were included in the study. Questionnaires were completed during patient interviews, and their consents were provided. Latex prick test and latex specific IgE test (HY-TEC, K82) were performed. Mean age of the patients was 52 ± 14 (25-79) years, and 61% was male. Mean dialysis duration was 38 months, and 21% of them were diabetics. Only five patients had allergic complaints in their histories, and none of them had severe anaphylaxis history. Latex prick test was positive in two patients. Latex specific IgE test was positive in five patients. Overall latex sensitivity was defined as 3.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No increased prevalence in latex allergy was determined in HD patients. Latex allergy incidence may be increased in atopic HD patients. Therefore, the use of latex products should be avoided as much as possible especially in atopic HD patients.
authors.affiliation: Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Izmir, Turkey. sukrankose@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sukran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kose
authors.forename: Bengu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tatar
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erden
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tatar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology