LONGITUDINAL-STUDY ON LATEX SENSITIZATION IN CHILDREN WITH SPINA-BIFIDA

The course of latex sensitization is rarely documented, and only a few reports about the influence of prophylaxis in the occupational enviro nment have been published concerning health care workers. Therefore we did a follow-up study in the high risk group of patients with spina b ifida and evaluated the efficacy of latex prophylaxis. For this purpos e we measured IgE antibodies (FEIA) against latex and inhalative aller gens in the sera of 67 patients with spina bifida and reevaluated them 0.6 to 4.1 years later, having instructed the patients about prophyla ctic measures and established a latex-free environment for surgery of all spina bifida patients in our hospital. 37% of the patients did not develop latex antibodies during the follow-up period, 27% showed decr easing levels of antibodies (12% to non-detectable levels), 19% had an increase in latex sensitization (6% newly sensitized), and 9% showed no change in levels of latex antibodies. From our data it may be concl uded that surgery without strict latex prophylaxis is the main cause o f new sensitization and worsening of preexisting latex antibody levels . Mild sensitization can be reduced by prophylactic measurements to no n-detectable antibody levels. With consistent prophylaxis, even sympto matic patients can be operated without risk of allergic complications or increasing antibodies.