LATEX ALLERGY
Key Allergens
Latex is a product of the rubber tree,
Hevea brasiliensis, it is in the
Euphorbiaceae family of plants. It can not be used for food, but other edible plants in the family include
cassava, used to make flour and tapioca and
castor beans, which are used to make medicinal oils.
The rubber tree plant has 15 associated contact allergens.
The more common ones we know about are a
hevein precursor protein, this allergen is important in cross reactivity with other foods containing hevein.
Patatin protein, is again important in cross reactivity.
Hev b 8 is a
profilin profilin, these are panallergens found in many plants and foods.
Hev b 11 is a
chitinase, these are proteins found in other foods and contribute to cross reactivity of latex.
Hev b 12 is a
Lipid Transfer Protein (LTP), this is another panallergen and cause problems over multiple foods and plants.
An allergy to latex may give you the potential to be allergic to many foods and pollens, but many people only have contact allergic dermatitis with products containing latex only.
Associated Syndromes
Latex is primarily linked to
allergic contact dermatitis.
Latex is often associated with
Latex Food Syndrome. This is where the body is initially sensitised to the latex plant and later becomes allergic to foods which contain similarly shaped proteins. You can download a Latex Food Syndrome Factsheet from the
Allergy Resources Ko-fi Shop for just $0.90 (£0.69 or €0.82). This has up to date information on which foods contain latex linked allergens and what to avoid if you think you have Latex Food Syndrome.
Latex contains LTPs, this can link it to
LTP Syndrome, where LTPs in multiple plants and foods cause allergic reactions.
The profilin proteins in latex can link it to an allergic syndrome called Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome, it is essentially a sub-category of
Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome. The body mistakes the shape of a protein that it is already sensitive to (a plant pollen) to a similarly shaped protein in certain fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, and nuts. The symptoms of this are like oral allergy symptoms.
Cross Reactivity
Turnips contain hevein, potatoes contain patatin and plants containing chitinase proteins are also found in chestnut, banana, avocado, pomegranate and maize (corn). These are all linked to Latex Food Syndrome. Airborne chitinase allergens are found in cockroaches, dust mites and coffee and might cause a problem for those who are very sensitive to latex.
Other plants containing airborne profilins are pigweed, ragweed, wormwood, birch tree, hemp, crocus, sunflower, olive, rice, plantain, poplar tree, mesquite, oak tree and maize (corn). Food containing profilins include pineapple, kiwi, celery, peanut, chilli, watermelon, muskmelon, hazelnut, orange, carrot, strawberry, soya beans, barley, walnut, lychee, lupin, apple, banana, dates, cherry, almond, peach, pear, mustard, tomato, aubergine and wheat.
Common foods involved in LTP allergy include kiwi, strawberries, sunflower seeds, walnut, apple, mulberry, banana, pea, apricot, cherry, plum, almond, peach pomegranate, raspberry, tomato, grape, celery, peanut, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, chestnut, lemon, tangerine, orange, hazelnut, lettuce, lentils, lupin, green bean, pear, mustard, wheat and maize.
Enolase is a less common allergen found in the rubber tree plant. In foods it is found in different types of fish and chicken, as an airway allergen it is ragweed, wormwood, grasses, yeasts and fungus.
Resources
Websites
DermNet NZ - Latex Allergy
Allergen Encyclopedia - Latex
Science Direct - Hevein
Science Direct - Latex Allergy
ACAAI - Latex Allergy
Anaphylaxis Campaign - Natural Rubber Latex
HSE - Latex Allergies in Health and Social Care
Articles and Journals
Anaphylaxis after Avocado ingestion in a patient located in the Rio Grande Valley, 2024
In silico approaches for the identification of potential allergens among hypothetical proteins from Alternaria alternata and its functional annotation, 2024
Jackfruit Anaphylaxis Due to Cross Reactivity with Latex, 2023
Prevalence of Type I Allergy to Latex and Type IV Allergy to Rubber Additives in Turkish Healthcare Workers, 2023
Latex anaphylaxis in healthcare worker and the occupational health management perspective: A case report, 2023
Impact of individual molecular components in determining primary sensitization to latex, 2023
Diagnostic Difficulties in the Natural Rubber Latex Allergy, 2022
Update on latex allergy: New insights into an old problem, 2021
Natural rubber latex allergy, 2021
Jackfruit Anaphylaxis in a Latex Allergic Non-Healthcare Worker, 2021
Latex Allergy: Current Status and Future Perspectives, 2020
Latex-fruit syndrome in Italian children and adolescents with natural rubber latex allergy, 2013
Diagnosis of latex allergy: the importance of Hev b 11, 2012
Latex Allergy: An Update, 2003
Cross-reactivity between Ficus benjamina latex and fig fruit in patients with clinical fig allergy, 2003
Class I chitinases as potential panallergens involved in the latex-fruit syndrome, 1999
Latex allergy, 1994
Let me know if you found any of these interesting or useful.
If you spot an article or research that you think is interesting you can message me or tag me on Facebook or Twitter - links at the bottom of the page.