Evaluation of Latex Subclinical Sensitization by Way of the Basophil Activation Test and Specific IgE to Latex Recombinant Allergens

摘要

Latex allergy can cause severe adverse reactions. Thediagnosis is difficult in many cases, because diagnostic tests are not always reliable. 1 Standardized extracts for prick tests can provide a sensitivity of 93%,2but some antigens are under-represented in these extracts,3 making specific IgE determination necessaryin several cases. On the other hand, the specificitydrastically decreases in patients allergic to pollen andmold owing to cross-reactivity between the latex profilin (rHev b 8) and enolase enzymes (rHev b 9), respectively.4-6 Patients allergic to latex can also havesymptoms after ingestion of fruits with homologousproteins,7 and cross-reactivity carbohydrate determinants ( CCDs ) are also possible. 8 With regard toprovocation tests, the reproducibility of the latexglove-use test can be affected by the amount of allergenic latex protein present in the different gloves. 1To solve cross-reactivity diagnostic questions, specific IgE to latex recombinant allergens can be determined, although its clinical relevance is not still clear.In this way, the Basophil Activation Test (BAT) wasfound to be more specific than specific IgE to latex inpanallergen-sensitized patients.9.