title: Occupational Latex Allergy: the Current State of Affairs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergy to natural rubber latex (NRL) reached epidemic proportions during the nineties and led to intense preventive efforts. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive compilation of the current status of occupational NRL allergy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent advances led to the characterization of 15 NRL allergens and the development of assays for measuring the allergen content of NRL materials and specific IgE antibodies against NRL allergen components. Preventive measures aimed at reducing workplace exposure to NRL allergens were associated with decreasing incidence rates of NRL allergy. However, a pooled analysis of epidemiological surveys published during the last 10 years provided prevalence estimates of NRL sensitization and allergy similar to those derived from studies conducted before 2003. Substantial progress has been made in the understanding and prevention of NRL allergy, although the disease may still remain a worldwide cause of concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Medicine, Université Catholique de Louvain, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire UCL Namur, B-5530, Yvoir, Belgium. olivier.vandenplas@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vandenplas
authors.affiliation: IPA Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raulf
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012408:Rubber / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D012408:Rubber
keywords: Latex allergens; Latex allergy; Occupational diseases; Specific IgE