Allergic sensitization and clinical reactions to latex, food and pollen inadult patients

Background Many latex-allergic patients are sensitized to one or more foods . Patients allergic to tree and/or grass pollens are also often sensitized to plant-derived foods. Atopy, defined in most studies as sensitivity to an aeroallergen, is a risk factor for latex allergy. The relative importance of pollen sensitivity, a sign of atopy, as a risk factor for food allergy i n latex-allergic patients has not, however, been examined. Objective To investigate the relationship between pollen sensitivity and se nsitivity to food in latex-allergic patients. Methods Forty-four latex-allergic patients (Groups 1 and 2), 24 of whom wer e also allergic to tree and/or grass pollen (Group 1) and 25 pollinosis pat ients who were not allergic to latex (Group 3) were studied. We obtained a history of reactions to food and skin tested them with 12 fresh-frozen frui ts. Results All 12 foods induced a skin test reaction in at least one patient i n each of the three Groups. There were, however, twice as many positive ski n test reactions to food in patients with pollinosis, whether or not they w ere allergic to latex, as there were in patients allergic to latex but not to pollen. Latex-allergic patients were most likely to have a positive skin test and a history of a reaction to avocado or banana whereas patients wit h pollinosis only were most likely to have a positive skin test and a histo ry of a reaction to apple, peach or celery. Conclusions These results suggest that concomitant allergy to pollen is an important risk factor in determining which plant-derived foods sensitize la tex-allergic patients.