Abstract
Objective. The purpose of this study was to alert doctors of dental surgery to the possibility
of latex sensitivity in both outpatients and inpatients. Study Design. The study involved 2 groups: group A was composed of 21 subjects with a history of
immediate reaction in dental environment; group B was composed of 24 healthy individuals.
Patients underwent skin prick tests with common inhalant allergens, with latex cross-reacting
foods, with a commercial extract of nonammoniated latex, and the incremental challenge
test with local anesthetics. Specific IgE to latex and to latex cross-reacting foods
were measured with the fluorescent enzyme immunoassay. Results. All patients in group A and none in group B were latex-allergic. Subjects who were
latex-allergic were significantly more likely to be atopic and had positive IgE test
to cross-reactive foods. Conclusions. Dentists and people working in a dental surgery environment must obtain detailed
patient history to help identify individuals at risk of latex allergy or those actually
allergic to latex. If an allergy exists, equipment used should be made of alternative
materials.(Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;93:144-8)
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 27,
2001
Received in revised form:
August 6,
2001
Received:
June 11,
2001
Footnotes
*Reprint requests: Eustachio Nettis, MD, Cattedra di Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Padiglione Chini – Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124 Bari, Italy [email protected]
Identification
Copyright
© 2002 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
