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  • Title: Effect of reduced exposure on natural rubber latex sensitization in health care workers.
    Author: Ruëff F, Schöpf P, Putz K, Przybilla B.
    Journal: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol; 2004 May; 92(5):530-7. PubMed ID: 15191021.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the long-term course of allergy or sensitization to natural rubber latex (NRL) is insufficient. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term effect of preventive measures on sensitization variables in health care workers who had been diagnosed as having NRL allergy (NRLA) or NRL sensitization (NRLS) without clinical symptoms. METHODS: Repeated follow-up investigations, skin prick tests, and NRL specific IgE serum antibodies were performed in 88 health care workers-33 with NRLA and 55 with NRLS. All workers had been instructed to avoid NRL exposure. At the workplace, powder-free NRL gloves for all other employees were gradually introduced. Re-evaluations were done at 14 +/- 3.7 (N = 86) and 38 +/- 4.0 (N = 78) months after the first examination. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, a loss of skin prick test reactivity to NRL was observed in 1 of 29 subjects with NRLA (3.4%) and 16 of 35 with NRLS (45.7%) with previous skin test reactions (P < .001). Among those subjects who demonstrated a kU/L level (CAP class) equal to or greater than class I to NRL at the initial examination, NRL-specific IgE was absent at the last follow-up in 8 (32.0%) of 25 subjects with NRLA and 14 (38.9%) of 36 with NRLS. At the final examination, we could no longer demonstrate sensitization to NRL by any method in 24 (27.3%) of 88 health care workers. Complete loss of NRL sensitization was less frequent in subjects with NRLA than in those with NRLS (1 of 33 or 3.0% vs 23 of 55 or 41.8%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of simple preventive measures lowers markers of sensitization to NRL quickly in many health care workers with NRLA or NRLS.
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