[Allergic asthma to latex, proven by a bronchial provocation test]

The authors report the case of a female cook who develops contact urticaria associated with rhinitis and asthma-type dyspnea when using rubber gloves in the course of her work. Allergy to latex was confirmed by a PRICK-test with latex, the presence of specific IgE in the serum, and the onset of contact urticaria after putting on gloves. A latex glove was rinsed with 10 cc of distilled water and the resulting solution, used as a spray, brought on a bronchospasm in the first two minutes. This bronchial provocation test proves that latex can cause asthma-type dyspnea when work involves contact with the substance. The speed of onset and intensity of the respiratory symptoms observed show that such a provocation test must be carried out with extreme care in patients with a marked sensitivity to latex. The future lies in the possibility of easily standardizing the latex protein concentration in order to be able to administer progressive doses without any systemic risk. This case draws attention to the probably underestimated possibility of latex-induced asthma in all subjects who are brought into repeated contact with latex, whatever their profession.