To identify the profile of sensitization to latex allergens in patients with spina bifida, with and without symptoms of latex allergy.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study with 210 pacients aged 0 to 18 who have spina bifida and who have been followed in a Reference Hospital, in São Paulo, Brazil. Patients were submitted to a questionnaire for immediate symptoms related to latex allergy and they were classified as symptomatic (S) or asymptomatic (A), depending the presence of immediate symptoms on exposure to latex. Their blood were collected for the detection of serum total IgE, specific IgE to latex, and specific IgE to rHev b1, 3, 5, 6.01, 6.02, 8, 9, 11, through ImmunoCAP ® technique.
Results:
Patients’ mean age were 7.9 years and 108 (51%) were female. S patients were 47 (22%). For these patients, 28 (60%) had at least one specific IgE positive test and 19 (40%) presented all tests negative. The A cases accounted for 163 (78%) patients. For these patients, 57 (35%) had at least one specific IgE test positive and 106 (65%) presented all tests negative. The prevalence of sensitization to recombinant latex allergens is not the same among patients S and A: rHev b 1 (S = 68%, A = 49%), rHev b3 (S = 39%, A = 28%), rHev b5 ( S=32%, A = 21%), rHev b6.01 (S = 43%, A = 23%), rHev b6.02 (S=43%, A = 19%), rHev b8 (S = 0, A = 2% ), rHev b9 (S=4%, A = 5%), rHev b11 (S=32%, A=23%).
Conclusions:
In this study, the prevalence of latex allergy in spina bifida patients is 22%. In symptomatic patients, the sensitivity of specific IgE tests is very poor. The profile for rHev b positivity is different in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.