ALLERGY TO LATEX IN SPINA-BIFIDA - A MULTIVARIATE STUDY OF ASSOCIATEDFACTORS IN 100 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS

Background: Latex allergy is quite frequent in patients who have under gone multiple operations, such as children with spina bifida. Objectiv e: This investigation was carried to study the prevalence and risk fac tors associated with latex allergy in patients with spina bifida. Meth ods: We studied 100 consecutive patients by skin prick tests and quant ified specific IgE to latex with commercial antigens. Results: Twenty- nine patients were sensitized to latex, although 14 (49%) did not repo rt symptoms. There was a statistical association (p < 0.05) between se nsitization and age, number of operations, number of cystourethrograms , antecedents of intermittent bladder catheterization, personal antece dents of atopy, the presence of a ventricular-peritoneal shunt and lev els of serum total IgE, the fatter both in absolute units per millilit er and relative z-units. Through a forward stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis, the number of operations, serum total IgE in z-un its, the presence of a ventricular-peritoneal shunt, and personal ante cedents of atopy were selected as the synergistic variables that most contributed to identification of sensitized patients. The mathematical model so developed had an area under the receiver operating character istic curve of 0.95. Alternative models always retained two variables, the number of operations and levels of IgE. Conclusion: Allergy to la tex is mainly related to the number of operations and to the atopic di athesis of patients.