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ALEX³ Case #9

Clemens, 35 years from Germany

Clinical history

Clemens is a surgical assistant and comes into contact with latex a lot due to his job. Over the years, he developed severe dermatitis from contact with latex and rubber materials. Since then, he only used latex-free gloves and his skin problems improved.

Family history

No known allergies

Present situation

Even short periods of contact with latex trigger symptoms: When blowing up balloons, his lips start to tingle, swell up & he notices a feeling of tightness & pain in his chest. FFP3 masks with a latex seal inside of the mask cause redness & swelling in the area of the face it touches. While transporting a plastic spare part in his car, his chest became tight, & he experienced severe breathing difficulties. His doctor then ordered an ALEX³® allergy test.

Clemens' ALEX³ test results

Allergen source Allergen

Latex

Hev b 5

Latex

Hev b 6

Allergen source Biochemical designation

Latex

Unknown

Latex

Pro-Hevein

Allergen source IgE Level [kUA/L]

Latex

56.12

Latex

87.44

Analysis

Latex allergy

  • Sensitisation to latex was detected
  • Latex allergy is characterised by inhalation symptoms and local skin reactions
  • Hev b 6 is an anaphylactogenic molecule involved in latex-associated food allergy (latex-fruit syndrome) to avocado, banana, kiwi etc.

Summary

  • Sensitisation to Hev b 5 and 6 indicates high anaphylaxis risk, requiring strict avoidance and emergency preparedness
  • Hev b 6 is an anaphylactogenic molecule and a key marker of latex–fruit syndrome
  • Avoidance of cross-reactive fruits (banana, avocado, kiwi, chestnut, papaya) is advised until tolerance is clarified
  • Prescription of an emergency kit (including epinephrine auto-injector)
  • The use of substitute products (e.g., nitrile gloves) is strongly recommended

Novel findings revealed by ALEX³

  • Latex allergy
MADx_fruits-1431_A4