SERUM REACTIVITIES TO LATEX PROTEINS (HEVEA-BRASILIENSIS)

Background: In recent years there has been an increasing incidence of allergy to latex among health care workers and children with spina bif ida. The allergic response in these individuals can be severe and occa sionally fatal Several allergens have been identified with the use of sera from different patient groups. In our effort to identify reagents for in vitro testing and clinical use, we investigated the reactiviti es of latex proteins to sera collected from a wide range of patients w ith latex allergy. Methods: Twenty-six serum samples were obtained fro m adult patients with latex allergy, both hospital workers and non-hos pital workers. Serum pools were made either from sera of children with spina bifida or sera of adult patients with Eater allergy. proteins f rom C-serum and lattex particles of latex sap (nonammoniated) were sep arated by different gel electrophoresis techniques and evaluated for s pecific IgE binding by immunoblotting. Results: More than 50% of the s era tested reacted to an 18 kd protein, a 25.6 kd acidic protein with an isoelectric point of 3.5, or to both proteins; whereas only 23% of the individual serum samples tested reacted to the rubber elongation f actor which has been reported to be a major Eater allergen. The immuno reactive patterns of children's and adults' serum pools were similar b ut not identical. Conclusions: With the use of gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting techniques, different immunoreactive proteins were ide ntified in C-serum and particles of latex. Rubber elongation factor, w hich reacted to only 23% of sera tested, did not appear to cross-react immunologically with other latex allergens.