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Nasal and exhaled nitric oxide in response to occupational
latex exposure
Author(s) -
Tan K.,
Bruce C.,
Birkhead A.,
Thomas P. S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2001.00975.x
Subject(s) - exhaled nitric oxide , nitric oxide , occupational exposure , medicine , exhaled breath condensate , exhalation , immunology , asthma , environmental health , anesthesia , spirometry
Background: Latex sensitivity is an increasing problem among health‐care workers. Allergic responses are associated with changes in nitric oxide (NO) generation and the changes secondary to latex have not been described. Methods: A total of 22 subjects comprising equal numbers of control volunteers and subjects with self‐reported latex sensitivity were recruited to undergo latex skin prick testing. Symptom scores, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), and nasal nitric oxide (nNO) were studied 1) before and after a controlled latex challenge ( n =16), and 2) at the beginning and end of the working week, during exposure to latex ( n =18). Results: Latex challenge caused a significant fall in nNO levels in latex‐sensitive subjects, compared to normal control subjects ( P =0.04). eNO levels also decreased in the latex‐sensitive subjects after latex challenge, but to a lesser degree. There were no significant differences between the beginning and end of the working week in terms of eNO or nNO in either group, although symptom scores showed a nonsignificant increase in latex‐sensitive subjects. Conclusions: Fall in nasal NO after latex challenge is associated with reported symptomatic latex sensitivity, and this corresponds to latex skin prick test positivity. Neither nNO nor eNO showed a clear relationship to routine workplace exposure.