Nasal and exhaled nitric oxide in response to occupational latex exposure

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.

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).

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.

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.