HYPERSENSITIVITY TO LATEX AND FICUS-BENJAMINA ALLERGENS

Background: Association between allergy to Ficus benjamina and Hevea b rasiliensis, two botanically unrelated plants, was suspected in conseq uence of two clinical observations. Symptoms were rhinitis and asthma, This study was undertaken to assess the in vivo and in vitro cross-re activity between Ficus benjamina and Hevea brasiliensis allergens. Met hods: The two patients were asked about use and contact with latex dev ices and relationship between symptoms and Ficus benjamina exposure. S kin prick tests were performed with Ficus benjamina, Hevea brasiliensi s extracts and common allergens. Double-blind nasal and bronchial chal lenge tests were done using the rinse fluid from a brand of latex glov es. Total and specific IgE antibodies to Ficus benjamina and Hevea bra siliensis were determined. In vitro cross-reactivity was investigated by means of CAP RAST and immunodot inhibition experiments. Results: We observed that for the first patient the primary phenomenon is probabl y allergy to latex followed by allergy to Ficus benjamina. For the sec ond patient, allergy to Ficus benjamina was diagnosed (improvement rel ated to the avoidance of exposure to Ficus benjamina allergens) and po sitivity to latex skin prick tests may be due to the cross-reacting al lergens, In vitro assays showed specific IgE antibodies to both allerg ens and cross-reactivity was confirmed in the two cases by reciprocal inhibition of the two extacts. Conclusion: The increasing risk of sens itization to widely used latex devices and extensive exposure to Ficus species in households and offices indicates increased allergenic risk from this newly recognized cross-reactivity.