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Latex allergy: past and present
B Jean Meade1, David N Weissman, Donald H Beezhold
1National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. bhm8@cdc.gov
Insights
Latex allergy, a growing concern for healthcare workers and children with spina bifida, involves specific latex allergens and exposure risks. Understanding its history, allergens, and management is crucial for prevention and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Occupational Health
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Latex products have been used for over a century, but latex allergy has emerged as a significant health issue in the last 15 years.
- Latex allergy disproportionately affects healthcare workers (HCW) and children with spina bifida (SB).
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a historical overview of latex allergy.
- To review key aspects of latex allergy, including manufacturing processes, characterized allergens, exposure assessment, epidemiology, clinical management, and animal models.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on latex allergy.
- Examination of the manufacturing process for dipped latex products.
- Analysis of characterized latex allergens (11 designated by IUIS).
- Review of exposure assessment methodologies.
- Compilation of epidemiological data and clinical management strategies.
- Assessment of the role of animal models in understanding latex allergy mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Identification of 11 characterized latex allergens with designations by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS).
- Overview of manufacturing processes influencing allergenicity.
- Summary of epidemiological trends and clinical manifestations.
- Discussion of various exposure assessment techniques.
- Evaluation of animal models for mechanistic studies.
Conclusions:
- Latex allergy is a recognized occupational and patient health hazard requiring comprehensive understanding.
- Knowledge of latex allergens, exposure, and management is essential for affected populations.
- Further research, including animal models, aids in understanding allergy mechanisms.
Abstract:
Although latex products have been in use for over a century, allergic responses to latex proteins have only been recognized as a serious health problem for the past 15 years. Latex allergy particularly affects two groups, health care workers (HCW) and children with spina bifida (SB). This manuscript provides a brief history of latex allergy, and a review of the following: the manufacturing process for dipped latex products, the 11 latex allergens that have been characterized and received allergen designations by the International Union of Immunological Societies, the methods used in exposure assessment, the epidemiology and clinical management of latex allergy, and the use of animal models in investigating mechanisms underlying latex allergy.