Causes of Latex Protein Allergy

The protein allergy problem as such appears to have been instigated by the appearance of some very poorly manufactured gloves and other latex articles on the market. These were produced by entrepreneurs who were either unaware of, or disregarded, normal latex dipping plant management. At worst they failed to maintain cleanliness on their dipping lines thus permitting build ups of proteinaceous sediment in their dipping tanks. They also failed to ensure adequate leaching of their products, either through performing the operation too quickly, or through using contaminated water. This led to the marketing of some latex products with very high protein levels. This in turn led to severe reactions in potentially sensitive individuals.

In a small number of cases the reactions were sufficiently severe to cause deaths in a small group of highly susceptible patients, mainly those suffering from spina bifida, who were exposed to some poorly manufactured enema tips marketed in the USA. It needs to be stressed that manufacturers are now aware of the need for good-housekeeping and the Standard Malaysian Glove is the first stage of ensuring that quality is closely monitored at source.

There is also some evidence that the transfer of manufacture to natural rubber producing countries led to the use of fresh latex, which contains higher protein levels, and may make the seasonal and clonal variations in protein levels more pronounced in the products manufactured from them³. The switch from talc to corn starch dusting agents also may have made it easier for the proteins or protein fragments on the surface of gloves to be transferred. The corn starch is liable to form granulomas within surgical wounds. This is not a problem peculiar to natural rubber latex and is a risk associated with all powdered gloves whatever the material. It is also probable that some are liable to be allergic to corn starch powder or to the casein used as a stabilizer: some evidence for this is noted later.

There have been suggestions⁴ that the rise in the allergy may be attributable to higher yielding trees, but these claims have note been substantiated. On the other hand there has been a very rapid in the prevalence of allergies and asthma, especially in North America and Europe. This may be a genuine change, for which a wide variety of factors have been proposed: these include vehicle exhausts and a reduction in the ventilation of homes to conserve heat. On the other hand, the increase could be due to a greater awareness of these conditions.

References
³Dalrymple, S.J. and Audley, B.G. Protein allergies in latex products, in Latex Technology and Processing. Brickendonbury: Rubber Consultants, 1992.
⁴Williams, Haydn. Natural rubber latex allergy - a problem in perspective. International Rubber Exhibition and Conference, Manchester 1999, London Crain Communications, 1999.