<i>Hevea brasiliensis</i> Latex Allergens: Current Panel and Clinical Relevance

Abstract

Latex allergy has been studied in detail in Europe and the US over the past two decades, resulting in specific guidelines that succeeded in reducing its incidence in high-risk populations within the medical field. How these developments have affected high-risk populations outside the health care scenario is an important unanswered question. In addition, a second wave of latex allergy may occur in nations that are striving to attain higher economic and technologic standards, including population-dense countries such as China. Therefore, the application of Hevea allergens in novel diagnostic assays and the development of specific latex immunotherapy will provide new opportunities for latex allergy research. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the immunological properties of the 13 officially accepted Hevea brasiliensis latex allergens.

Quantitative analysis of immunoglobulin E reactivity profiles in patients allergic or sensitized to natural rubber latex (Hevea brasiliensis)

“…However, in non-healthcare areas and throughout less-industrialized countries, latex sensitization remains a serious clinical problem [12]. Because of this remaining concern, improved diagnostic and management methods, possibly involving immunotherapy, remain important areas of investigation [13,14].…”

Contact Urticaria

“…Health workers, cleaning workers and hairdressers are often at risk. However, natural latex rubber is common in daily life and the general population is also at risk in terms of ICU development [13][14][15]. Cross-reaction with latex has been identiied with fruits (avocado, banana, apple and kiwi), vegetables (paprika, carrot, celery, potato and tomato), plants and pollens [4,[16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Natural Rubber Biosynthesis and Physic-Chemical Studies on Plant Derived Latex

“…Shortages in rubber supply are already forecasted (Davis, 1997;Cornish, 2001a;van Beilen and Poirier, 2007a). For all stated reasons, combined with the fact that minor non-rubber components tightly attached to the natural rubber polymer of H. brasiliensis cause allergies, countries depending on the import of natural rubber have an interest in establishing alternative domestic rubber crops or engineering alternative substitutes (Cornish, 2001a;Wagner and Breiteneder, 2005;Mooney, 2009). …”