RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to study the pathogenesis of latex allergy and the significance in the prevention and cure of occupational diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>651 cases in the out-patient department were tested with skin prick test (SPT), and the specific IgE (sIgE) to latex were detected by means of disk ELISA and Western-blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was found that the positive rate of latex SPT (37.5%) and sIgE (31.25%) were rather higher in patients in comparison with those of the normal. The positive rate of latex sIgE was much higher in the high-risk group than that of the low-risk group and the normal. The serum of the patients can react with multi-bands in the latex glove extracts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of latex allergy is rather high, this disease is mediated by IgE. The people in high-risk should be tested by latex allergy in order to take proper occupational and daily protection.</p>