ABSTRACT
Case History: A 28-year-old hematology laboratory technician was seen in December 1990 with a two-year history of contact dermatitis while using the powdered latex gloves at work that were in general use at the time, followed by development of contact urticaria. She had previously had an anaphylactic episode while at work in 1988 and again during a cesarean section in 1989. She subsequently had less severe episodes of urticaria and angioedema at work with mild asthmatic and allergic rhinitis responses, which occurred even while she avoided personal contact with latex products at work (using nonlatex gloves) in 1992. Her symptomatic episodes were objectively documented, and she had a strongly positive skin test response to natural rubber latex (NRL) extract. Measurement of airborne NRL became nondetectable after the use of powder-free latex gloves in her laboratory. Her symptoms cleared, enabling her to continue work in the same environment with personal NRL avoidance.
