BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to ethylene oxide (EtO-treated products have occurred in several children with myelomeningoceles. OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to define the prevalence and significance of EtO-specific IgE among the children in our myelomeningocele clinic. METHODS: The study population comprised three groups: children clinic. METHODS: The study population comprised three groups: children with myelomeningoceles, chronically ill controls (defined as children who had undergone at least three major operations), and well-child controls. Serum specimens were collected from each child, and a commercially available ELISA designed to identify IgE directed against both EtO and latex was performed on the specimens. RESULTS: Seventeen of 75 (23%) children with myelomeningoceles had antibodies directed against EtO, as did 1 of 26 (4%) chronically ill controls. None of the 25 well controls had detectable levels of anti-EtO IgE. Children with antibodies directed against EtO were more likely to be atopic (p = 0.007) and to have a shunt (p = 0.021) and were markedly more likely to have antibodies directed against latex (p = 0.001). On average they had undergone more shunt revisions and other operations than had children without anti-EtO antibodies. CONCLUSION: During the period of study no child had anaphylaxis thought to have been due to EtO exposure.
BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to ethylene oxide (EtO-treated products have occurred in several children with myelomeningoceles. OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to define the prevalence and significance of EtO-specific IgE among the children in our myelomeningocele clinic. METHODS: The study population comprised three groups: children clinic. METHODS: The study population comprised three groups: children with myelomeningoceles, chronically ill controls (defined as children who had undergone at least three major operations), and well-child controls. Serum specimens were collected from each child, and a commercially available ELISA designed to identify IgE directed against both EtO and latex was performed on the specimens. RESULTS: Seventeen of 75 (23%) children with myelomeningoceles had antibodies directed against EtO, as did 1 of 26 (4%) chronically ill controls. None of the 25 well controls had detectable levels of anti-EtO IgE. Children with antibodies directed against EtO were more likely to be atopic (p = 0.007) and to have a shunt (p = 0.021) and were markedly more likely to have antibodies directed against latex (p = 0.001). On average they had undergone more shunt revisions and other operations than had children without anti-EtO antibodies. CONCLUSION: During the period of study no child had anaphylaxis thought to have been due to EtO exposure.
Authors: Ahmad Hamad; Onyinye I Iweala; Cory Henderson; Shivanshu Madan; George A Stouffer; Scott P Commins; Edwin H Kim Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract Date: 2018-04-30