Ethylene oxide allergy in children with spina bifida

Determination of independent risk factors and comparative analysis of diagnostic methods for immediate type latex allergy in spina bifida patients

“…Those allergens are responsible for allergic reactions in at least 0.5% of the patients in the age range studied. Because NRL allergy and allergy for ethylene oxide can be confounded and because spina bifida patients who have specific IgE against ethylene oxide are more likely to have specific IgE against NRL, we also determined specific IgE for ethylene oxide [28].…”

Recurrent anaphylaxis during cardiac catheterization due to ethylene oxide

“…Previous reports have described IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reactions in patients sensitized to residual EtO in hemodialysis filters and tubing [3, 4]. Others have reported allergic reactions to EtO in patients with spina bifida, a population with extensive exposure to EtO in the setting of repeated surgical procedures [1, 5]. To date, there are no reports of patients with EtO-mediated anaphylaxis in the setting of cardiac catheterization.…”

“…The overall prevalence of IgE antibodies against EtO is unknown, although EtO-specific IgE antibodies could be detected in 13 out of 107 (12.1%) hemodialysis patients in one study [8] and 17 of 75 (23%) spina bifida patients in another [5]. Sensitization to EtO does not always correspond to IgE-mediated allergy to EtO.…”

“…Sensitization to EtO does not always correspond to IgE-mediated allergy to EtO. In most cases, EtO-sensitized patients never experience peri-procedural anaphylaxis despite exposure to EtO [1, 5]. EtO may haptenate human serum proteins, such as albumin, forming novel allergens that trigger immediate hypersensitivity responses [9].…”

Perioperative Anaphylaxis to Ethylene Oxide: Twenty Years after, a Diagnosis Revisited

“…In two cases out of three [5], the level of serum specific IgEs against ethylene oxide was positive. Nevertheless, the specificity of the IgE-assay to ethylene oxide seems to be poor [7]. In a recent paper reporting the perioperative care of "a patient allergic to ethylene oxide", the proof of the diagnosis was not supported by skin tests to ethylene oxide whereas latexinduced reaction was not ruled out [6].…”