Warshaw E M, Nelson D
Department of Dermatology and the Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Am J Contact Dermat. 2001 Sep;12(3):139-45. doi: 10.1053/ajcd.2001.22775.
Natural rubber latex allergy is a potentially life-threatening, immunoglobin E (IgE) mediated reaction. Despite great strides in identification of high-risk groups, methods for diagnosis remain limited in the United States and most evaluations are performed by allergists.
The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of evaluation for latex allergy and association with practice characteristics in United States dermatologists.
A cross-sectional survey of one third of United States Fellows of the American Academy of Dermatology.
The survey response rate was 43%. Of responding dermatologists, 17% stated that they evaluate patients for latex allergy, most commonly with a radioallergosorbent (RAST) or use test. Only 3.6% stated that they perform prick or scratch tests for latex allergy in their office, and most of these dermatologists (86%) prepare their own latex prick test solutions. Evaluation for latex allergy was significantly associated with patch testing, photopatch testing, an interest in contact dermatitis, and number of contact dermatitis books owned, but not with number of years in practice.
Most United States dermatologists do not evaluate patients for latex allergy, most likely because of lack of available antigens and because methods for diagnosing latex allergy are not familiar to most dermatologists.
天然橡胶乳胶过敏是一种潜在的危及生命的、由免疫球蛋白E（IgE）介导的反应。尽管在识别高危人群方面取得了巨大进展，但在美国，诊断方法仍然有限，大多数评估由过敏症专科医生进行。
本研究的目的是估计美国皮肤科医生对乳胶过敏进行评估的患病率以及与执业特征的关联。
对美国皮肤科协会三分之一的会员进行横断面调查。
调查回复率为43%。在回复的皮肤科医生中，17%表示他们会对患者进行乳胶过敏评估，最常用的是放射变应原吸附试验（RAST）或使用试验。只有3.6%表示他们在办公室进行乳胶过敏的点刺或划痕试验，并且这些皮肤科医生中的大多数（86%）自己配制乳胶点刺试验溶液。对乳胶过敏的评估与斑贴试验、光斑贴试验、对接触性皮炎的兴趣以及拥有的接触性皮炎书籍数量显著相关，但与执业年限无关。
大多数美国皮肤科医生不会对患者进行乳胶过敏评估，最可能的原因是缺乏可用抗原，且大多数皮肤科医生不熟悉乳胶过敏的诊断方法。
