LATEX ANTIGENS

Latex allergy caused by natural rubber latex proteins from Hevea brasi liensis is recognized with increasing frequency due to the increased e xposure to latex products in recent years. The allergens are not yet i dentified or fully characterized. There are no dependable diagnostic m ethods that can be safely used to determine latex allergy. This articl e summarizes current knowledge about latex proteins and their allergen icity. Suggestions are also made to direct future research, both for u nderstanding latex allergic mechanisms and diagnosis of latex allergy.