RESUMO
More than 100 agents are now known to cause anaphylaxis, an immunologically mediated reaction to a specific antigen. Because there are no characteristics which predispose an individual to anaphylaxis, it is impossible to identify those at risk of a reaction. Death can occur within minutes, so early recognition is imperative for treatment. Anaphylaxis reactions were first noted in Egyptian hieroglyphics in 2640 B.C. but were not investigated until 1902 by Portier and Richet. Anaphylaxis is now defined as an aucte life-endangering syndrome resulting from the precipitous release of substantial amounts of chemical mediators from mast cells and basophils. The clinical course of this entity is variable. Reactions may range from mild to rapidly fatal. The severity of the reaction depends on the route, the doses and host sensitivity to the triggering agent. The syndrome may involve a number of organ systems, the most common being skin, respiratory, cardiovascular and G-I systems. The causes of anaphylaxis can be divided into those mediated by IgE and those that are not. The list of triggering agents has been steadily growing. Attention will be focused on latex (rubber) which has recently been identified as a cause of this condition. As latex is used worldwide in a wide array of medical and non-medical products, it is obviously of considerable importance to recognize it as a potential trigger. Once the cause is identified, the most important aspect of treatment is obviously avoidance. For treatment of an acute episode, the guiding principles should be maintainance of effective airway and circulating systems. Adrenalin continues to be the mainstay for initial treatment and, in some cases, desensitization or immunotherapy can help to prevent future attacks (AU_)
