[Latex and pollinosis]

Through the multidetection test for specific IgE to pneumoallergens (Aero-Matrix Plus, Abbott) our attention has been drawn to polysensitization to pollens. Amongst these pollen tests, plantain seems to be frequently associated with sensitization to latex. The aim of this work at first, is therefore to verify the reality of the frequency of the association between latex and plantain sensitization. However, the conclusions are difficult, since there are no patients who are only sensitive to plantain as sensitivity to this allergen is always found in a pollen polysensitization. at least associated with grass pollens; at most associated with a number of other pollens. The double profile (perhaps plantain + / grass pollen +, or perhaps plantain + / grass pollen + / other pollens +) is determinant in prediction of sensitivity to latex, which is found essentially in the group plantain + / grass pollen + / other pollens +. This study has also shown that amongst the population who have specific IgE to latex (IgEs) (sensitized or allergic): the patients who have a clinical history of allergy to latex have no profile of pollen polysensitization; the non-allergic but sensitive patients (IgE positive, but no clinical signs on contact with latex) show an extreme pollen polysensitization. This poses a problem of different antigenic determinants or perhaps two different pathways to sensitization to latex.