Natural rubber latex allergy - A problem of interdisciplinary concern in medicine

In the past 10 years, IgE-mediated allergy to natural rubber latex has beco me a significant health problem in industrialized countries, especially amo ng health care workers, patients with congenital malformations, and childre n with a history of multiple surgical interventions. Curative treatment ind ucing immunological tolerance in formerly sensitized patients is experiment al and not yet generally available. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the seriousness of latex allergy and to understand the risk factors lead ing to this allergy. Preventive measures are needed to decrease the inciden ce of natural rubber latex sensitization. This article gives a brief review of the current state of knowledge concerning latex allergy, including a de finition of latex, epidemiological data, identified allergens, the clinical spectrum, diagnostic procedures, cross-reactions, preventive measures, the legislative background, and economics.