抄録
Latex, a natural material derived from the rubber tree, is reported to cause a wide spectrum of allergic symptoms ranging from mild rhinitis to severe anaphylaxis. Individuals who frequently come into contact with latex are at risk of latex hypersensitivity. Furthermore, patients with latex hypersensitivity have cross-reactions to various foods, especially fruits, a condition which is called latex fruit syndrome. With the use of latex products becoming widespread, latex allergies are an increasingly common occurance. Although patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are frequently exposed to latex products in daily living, i. e., bladder catheterization and manual defecation, reports concerning the significance of latex fruit syndrome are scarce. We reported a case with latex fruit syndrome in a 56-year-old tetraplegic patient who developed an allergic reaction to bananas and corn during hospitalization. In this case, the patient had cross-reactivity to latex and many different kinds of foods. The specific IgE RAST was positive to latex, avocado, banana, apple and buckwheat, and false positive to corn, kiwi, tomato, spinach and carrot. After avoiding those foods that have cross-reactions to latex proteins, his allergic reactions ceased. The significance of latex fruit syndrome in the SCI population is not recognized among medical staff, the patients themselves or their families. Patients who are exposed to latex products should be advised to take extra precautions against latex fruit syndrome and to use non-latex products as soon as this syndrome manifest itself so as to prevent further sensitization to latex proteins.
