This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (31) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Patriarca, G. Articles by Schiavino, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Patriarca, G. Articles by Schiavino, D. Related Collections Pharmacology

---

ANESTHETIC PHARMACOLOGY

Sublingual Desensitization: A New Approach to Latex Allergy Problem

Giampiero Patriarca, MD^*, Eleonora Nucera, MD^*, Emanuela Pollastrini, MD^*, Chiara Roncallo, MD^*, Alessandro Buonomo, MD^*, Francesco Bartolozzi, MD, Tiziana De Pasquale, MD^*, Giovanni Gasbarrini, MD^*, and Domenico Schiavino, MD^*

Departments of *Internal Medicine and Allergology and Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore—Policlinico "A. Gemelli"—Rome, Italy

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Giampiero Patriarca, MD, Department of Allergology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico "A. Gemelli," Largo F. Vito, 1-00168 Rome, Italy. Address e-mail to allergologia{at}hotmail.com

The prevalence of latex allergy has rapidly increased. Clinical manifestations range from contact urticaria-angioedema and rhinoconjunctivitis to more severe bronchial asthma and anaphylactic shock. The only effective therapy is desensitization. We studied 24 patients allergic to latex: 12 of them underwent a rush (4-day) sublingual desensitization to latex, performed by putting increasing doses of latex extract under the patients’ tongues for 3 min every 20 min, followed by a maintenance therapy. The other 12 patients were considered controls. The sublingual rush desensitization protocol was successfully completed in all patients with no side effects. After 3 mo, all patients underwent an allergological evaluation, which showed a significant improvement of symptoms scores after challenges in the treated group as compared with the controls. All the desensitized patients can now wear latex gloves and undergo medical procedures without any symptoms.

IMPLICATIONS: We present 12 cases of latex allergy in patients who underwent desensitization by a sublingual exposure protocol. This study provides evidence that a safe therapeutic approach to latex allergy is possible.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. M. Tarlo, J. Balmes, R. Balkissoon, J. Beach, W. Beckett, D. Bernstein, P. D. Blanc, S. M. Brooks, C. T. Cowl, F. Daroowalla, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Work-Related Asthma: American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Statement Chest, September 1, 2008; 134(3_suppl): 1S - 41S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. G. Hamilton, R. H. Brown, M. A. Veltri, E. R. Feroli, M. N. Primeau, J. F. Schauble, and N. F. Adkinson Jr. Administering pharmaceuticals to latex-allergic patients from vials containing natural rubber latex closures Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., September 1, 2005; 62(17): 1822 - 1827. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. C. Drew, N. P. Eusebius, L. Kenins, H. D. de Silva, C. Suphioglu, J. M. Rolland, and R. E. O'Hehir Hypoallergenic Variants of the Major Latex Allergen Hev b 6.01 Retaining Human T Lymphocyte Reactivity J. Immunol., November 1, 2004; 173(9): 5872 - 5879. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Hepner and M. C. Castells Anaphylaxis During the Perioperative Period Anesth. Analg., November 1, 2003; 97(5): 1381 - 1395. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]