EVALUATION AND RISK-FACTORS OF LATEX ALLERGY IN SPINA-BIFIDA PATIENTS- IS IT PREVENTABLE

Allergic reactions to latex, varying from urticaria to life-threatenin g IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, have been described in patients with spina bifida. In a study of 50 patients 60% had a latex allergy identified by history, a radioallergosorbent test and/or a skin prick test. Latex allergic patients had undergone statistically more surgical procedure s than nonallergic patients (9.5 versus 6.7) with a p value of 0.03. T he presence of latex allergy did not correlate with the number of intr a-abdominal procedures (1.9 versus 1.4) or with the number of years on clean intermittent catheterization (7.7 versus 5.9). These results su ggest that latex allergy is acquired through multiple exposures due to breakdown of blood tissue barriers. Therefore, we recommend that all patients with spina bifida undergoing surgery be evaluated for latex a llergy and that all surgical procedures in spina bifida patients, from the time of birth, be performed in a latex-free environment.