Latex Sensitization: A Special Risk for Peritonitis in Continuous Peritoneal Dialysis Patients?

Aim: End-stage renal disease patients (ESRD) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) therapy can be a suspected risk group for natural rubber latex allergy (NRLA) because of their intense exposure to latex through catheters, gloves and anesthetic equipment especially during peritonitis attacks. We aimed to determine the incidence of latex sensitization in CAPD patients and evaluate frequency of peritonitis attacks as a risk factor for NRLA. Material and Method: We studied 50 CAPD patients with  peritonitis history, 30 patients without any peritonitis attacks and 26 healthy controls. NLLA test was made all patients and control group.A questionnaire-based history; and examinations was carried out by an allergist and a pulmonologist. Respiratory Function Tests (RFT), skin prick test (SPT) were done for each individuals in order to determine allergic tendency. Results: All of the groups were similar in terms of demographic data, questionnaire items, RFT results (p>0.05, respectively). No NRLA was present in group I and II (p>0.05). Only three persons in group III had NRLA (11.5%, p< 0.01). Statistical analysis disclosed no association between latex sensitization and accepted risk factor for NRLA in  CAPD patients. There are statistical differences between patients and control groups for NRLA. Discussion: In this study, we did not find NRLA in CAPD patients. CAPD patients were not at risk for latex-hypersensitivity compared with healthy population