517 Specific IgE to Recombinant Allergens of Latex and Foods in Patients With Spina Bifida

BACKGROUND: To identify the profile of specific IgE to recombinant allergens of Hevea brasiliensis and fruits in patients with spina bifida and latex allergy. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 210 pacients aged 0 to 18 who have spina bifida and who have been followed in a Reference Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Patients were submitted to a questionnaire about immediate latex allergy symptoms. Their blood were collected for the detection of serum specific IgE to latex, specific IgE to rHev b1, 3, 5, 6.01, 6.02, 8, 9, 11, and specific IgE to avocado, banana, chestnut, potato and papaya, through ImmunoCAP technique. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 7.9 years, and 108 (51%) were female. The mean time to the first surgery was 40 days, and patients presented an average of 4 or more surgeries during their lives. Forty-seven (22%) patients reported symptoms related to latex, predominantly cutaneous symptoms (85%). The latex recombinant allergens most related with symptoms were rHev b1 (19 patients, 68%) and rHev b3 (11 patients, 39%). On the other hand, tests were also positive to rHev b5 (9 patients, 32%), rHev b6.01 (12 patients, 43%), rHev b6.02 (12 patients, 43%), rHev b9 (patients 1, 4 %), and rHev b11 (9 patients, 32%). All tests were negative to rHev b8. Although, 36 (17%) patients tested positive to at least one of the food allergens, they did not present symptoms related to them. Balloons and latex gloves were the main objects associated with the onset of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prevalence of latex allergy was 22%. We observed a different profile of latex sensitization in relation to the literature. Patients do not present latex-fruit syndrome, in spite of cross-sensitization.