[Immediate reaction to latex: comparison between skin test and IgE determination with ELISA]

Development of latex hypersensitivity type 1 response mediated by IgE depends on exposition intensitivity and genetic predisposition. Clinical manifestations are urticaria, rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma and anaphylaxis.

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of latex immediate skin reactivity on allergy patients from 1-15 yr old from Hospital Infantil de México.

A clinical, prospective trial was performed between november 1998 and april 1999. During the study we documented 629 patients with allergy. Of them 30 had positive skin prick test (SPT) to latex according to Aas classification and 30 with negative SPT were randomly chosen as control group. Both groups were similar with respect to diagnosis, age, and sex characteristics.

629 children's with SPT, 30 had positive skin princk test (4.76%), 15 men and 15 women, with an average age of 8.9 years. For groups 1-5 years of age. The group age 6-10 years 6.21% and that of age 11-15 8.9%. Atopia antecedent 73.3%. For rhinitis and asthma diagnostic 63%, rhinitis 13%, asthma 20%, conjunctivitis 20%, atopic dermatitis and anaphylaxis 3.3%, urticaria 6.6%. Surgery antecedent 30%. 100% used a sucking, 93% used a latex toy the relationship of symptoms with the use of latex was 6.6%. Statistica1 ana1ysis was performed using: Nonparametric correlations the Kendall's tau-b: 0.329 and Spearman's rho 0.348 correlation is significant.

It does exist a correlation between SPT and test for latex-especific IgE antibodies, the older the patient, the higher frequency of latex reaction, history of atopy is the mayor risk factor.