Prenatal latex sensitization in patients with spina bifida: a pilot study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prenatal latex sensitization in patients with spina bifida: a pilot study

AU - Boettcher, Michael

AU - Göttler, Susanne

AU - Eschenburg, Georg

AU - Kracht, Thorben

AU - Kunkel, Philip

AU - Von der Wense, Axel

AU - Reinshagen, Konrad

PY - 2014/3/1

Y1 - 2014/3/1

N2 - OBJECT: Patients with spina bifida are particularly vulnerable to developing immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated latex sensitization. Even though many risk factors leading to latex allergy in these patients have been described, it is still unclear whether the increased prevalence of latex sensitization is disease associated or due to the procedures used to treat spina bifida. The aim of this study was to assess prenatal latex sensitization in patients with spina bifida by examining IgE levels in umbilical cord blood.METHODS: Patients with spina bifida and matched healthy infants were recruited from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and Children's Hospital Altona. Latex-specific and total IgE were assessed in umbilical cord blood using ImmunoCAP testing to evaluate the degree of prenatal latex sensitization.RESULTS: Twenty-two subjects, 10 with spina bifida and 12 healthy individuals, were included. Subjects were selected after matching for sex, gestational age, weight, parental allergy profile, number of prenatal examinations, and utilization of latex tools during pregnancy (propensity score estimates, p = 0.36). In patients with spina bifida, latex-specific and total IgE levels were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals (p = 0.001). After normalization to total IgE, latex-specific IgE levels were higher, yet not significantly increased (p = 0.085).CONCLUSIONS: Perinatally, there is a significant augmentation of total and latex-specific IgE in patients with spina bifida. After correcting for total IgE, latex-specific IgE was increased, yet not significantly higher than in matched, healthy controls. This pilot study gives novel insights in the immunological reactions related to spina bifida. The increased latex-specific IgE levels could possibly be associated with the occurrence of a latex allergy in the future.

AB - OBJECT: Patients with spina bifida are particularly vulnerable to developing immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated latex sensitization. Even though many risk factors leading to latex allergy in these patients have been described, it is still unclear whether the increased prevalence of latex sensitization is disease associated or due to the procedures used to treat spina bifida. The aim of this study was to assess prenatal latex sensitization in patients with spina bifida by examining IgE levels in umbilical cord blood.METHODS: Patients with spina bifida and matched healthy infants were recruited from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and Children's Hospital Altona. Latex-specific and total IgE were assessed in umbilical cord blood using ImmunoCAP testing to evaluate the degree of prenatal latex sensitization.RESULTS: Twenty-two subjects, 10 with spina bifida and 12 healthy individuals, were included. Subjects were selected after matching for sex, gestational age, weight, parental allergy profile, number of prenatal examinations, and utilization of latex tools during pregnancy (propensity score estimates, p = 0.36). In patients with spina bifida, latex-specific and total IgE levels were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals (p = 0.001). After normalization to total IgE, latex-specific IgE levels were higher, yet not significantly increased (p = 0.085).CONCLUSIONS: Perinatally, there is a significant augmentation of total and latex-specific IgE in patients with spina bifida. After correcting for total IgE, latex-specific IgE was increased, yet not significantly higher than in matched, healthy controls. This pilot study gives novel insights in the immunological reactions related to spina bifida. The increased latex-specific IgE levels could possibly be associated with the occurrence of a latex allergy in the future.

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Female

KW - Fetal Blood

KW - Humans

KW - Immunoglobulin E

KW - Infant

KW - Infant, Newborn

KW - Latex

KW - Latex Hypersensitivity

KW - Male

KW - Pilot Projects

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Spinal Dysraphism

U2 - 10.3171/2013.12.PEDS13402

DO - 10.3171/2013.12.PEDS13402

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 24404967

VL - 13

SP - 291

EP - 294

JO - J NEUROSURG-PEDIATR

JF - J NEUROSURG-PEDIATR

SN - 1933-0707

IS - 3

ER -