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Allergy and desensitization to latex. Clinical study on 50 dentistry subjects
I Vozza1, G Ranghi, A Quaranta
1Unit of Dental Prosthesis, Department of Dentistry La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Aim:
Nowadays latex allergy represents a relevant social and occupational problem because this substance constitutes the first material to realise many dental and non dental products; then, there is a cross-reactivity between latex allergens and proteins present in many vegetal foods. The aim of our research was to find latex allergy cases experimenting a percutaneous desensitization protocol.
Methods:
Among 50 examined subjects, those patients resulting positive to thiuram-mix by patch test have been submitted to desensitization after removal of all latex products and substances giving cross-allergy (kiwi, celery, chestnuts, tomato, banana etc.). Desensitization has been carried out by using latex glove from 10 s progressively to 1 h after 1-year treatment.
Results:
In 7 patients out of 11 (63.6%) regression of symptoms has been verified; 2 patients (18.2%) have declined treatment and 2 patients (18.2%) have showed no regression.
Conclusions:
Apart immunotherapy and DNA-vaccines, nowadays percutaneous desensitization is the most efficacious, safe and easy treatment for latex allergic patients; it has no collateral effects during its execution and no symptoms coming back to work, but it needs further verifications.