Contact urticaria and rhinitis from latex surgical gloves

Latex used in the manufacture of surgical gloves should be included in a list of allergens. It is found in the tree Hevea braziliensis. For approximately the last year, minutes after using surgical gloves, a female doctor had severe pruritus followed by a rash and angio-oedema of the contact areas. During the last 4 months, on opening the glove-bag, she experienced severe rhinitis and respiratory distress. The symptoms ceased in 1 h. Standard patch tests and with substances used in the manufacture of rubber were negative. Prick tests with glove and natural latex were strongly positive. The presence of specific IgE against natural latex was demonstrated by means of a histamine release assay as well as by immunoenzymatic methods. The antigen seems to have a MW higher than 30,000 d and is trypsin-sensitive. These facts suggest that the allergen could be a protein present in the "crude natural latex".