Anaphylaxis to latex in patients without identified risk factors for latex allergy.

We describe a representative patient diagnosed with anaphylaxis to latex occurring during elective surgery in the absence of any previous risk factors for latex allergy. Latex allergy was identified by skin prick testing and confirmed by serological diagnosis testing. We review our experience screening patients for latex allergy in Connecticut over the period 1995-present. Patients without known risk factors for latex allergy in a highly atopic population had a low rate (approximately 1%) of positive skin tests to latex when screened using an allergenic extract characterized for latex allergen by serological diagnosis at 200-500 AU/ml. Our experience suggests that skin prick test screening with serological diagnosis standardized latex extracts can be used to rapidly screen and identify individuals with latex allergy although the cost-effectiveness, sensitivity and safety of screening remains to be determined. Clinicians should consider the diagnosis of latex allergy in all cases of anaphylaxis without identified causes, even in patients without identified risk factors for latex allergy.