Biomaterial Database

Latex immunotherapy: state of the art. 2012

Eustachio Nettis, and Pantalea Delle Donne, and Elisabetta Di Leo, and Paola Fantini, and Giovanni Passalacqua, and Roberto Bernardini, and Giorgio Walter Canonica, and Antonio Ferrannini, and Angelo Vacca

Section of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy.

OBJECTIVE Latex allergy remains a significant problem, especially among certain professional categories, and specific immunotherapy has been suggested as a suitable therapeutic option. The objective of the this article is to review the available literature on clinical trials of specific immunotherapy in latex allergy. METHODS Literature databases (PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar) were searched for latex immunotherapy clinical trials. METHODS Clinical trials (either open or randomized controlled) using subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy with latex extracts were selected. Only articles published in English in peer-reviewed journals were considered. Case reports quoted in the clinical trials were also described, when pertinent. RESULTS Eleven clinical trials (3 with subcutaneous and 8 with sublingual immunotherapy) were identified. Two of the 3 randomized trials of subcutaneous immunotherapy reported some benefit in adults but a remarkable occurrence of side effects. Concerning sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), there were 6 randomized placebo-controlled (1 in children), 1 randomized open, and 1 open trials. All but 1 trial reported positive results, and the safety profile was overall superior to injection immunotherapy. The overall quality of the study was moderate, and the number of subjects studied was low. CONCLUSIONS Although guidelines do not consider allergy to latex as an accepted indication to desensitization, SLIT can be offered, in addition to symptomatic treatment, to selected patients, when avoidance measures are not feasible or effective.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007279	Injections, Subcutaneous	Forceful administration under the skin of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the skin.	Subcutaneous Injections,Injection, Subcutaneous,Subcutaneous Injection
D007840	Latex	A milky, product excreted from the latex canals of a variety of plant species that contain cauotchouc. Latex is composed of 25-35% caoutchouc, 60-75% water, 2% protein, 2% resin, 1.5% sugar & 1% ash. RUBBER is made by the removal of water from latex.(From Concise Encyclopedia Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3rd ed). Hevein proteins are responsible for LATEX HYPERSENSITIVITY. Latexes are used as inert vehicles to carry antibodies or antigens in LATEX FIXATION TESTS.	Latices,Latice
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D003888	Desensitization, Immunologic	Immunosuppression by the administration of increasing doses of antigen. Though the exact mechanism is not clear, the therapy results in an increase in serum levels of allergen-specific IMMUNOGLOBULIN G, suppression of specific IgE, and an increase in suppressor T-cell activity.	Allergen Immunotherapy,Allergy Shots,Hyposensitization Therapy,Immunotherapy, Allergen,Venom Immunotherapy,Immunologic Desensitization,Therapy, Hyposensitization,Allergen Immunotherapies,Allergy Shot,Desensitizations, Immunologic,Hyposensitization Therapies,Immunologic Desensitizations,Immunotherapy, Venom,Shot, Allergy,Venom Immunotherapies
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000286	Administration, Sublingual	Administration of a soluble dosage form by placement under the tongue.	Drug Administration, Sublingual,Sublingual Drug Administration,Sublingual Administration,Administration, Sublingual Drug,Administrations, Sublingual,Administrations, Sublingual Drug,Drug Administrations, Sublingual,Sublingual Administrations,Sublingual Drug Administrations
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths