Hevea latex-associated allergies: piecing together the puzzle of the latex IgE reactivity profile.

Introduction: IgE-mediated Hevea latex allergy and associated food-allergies constitute a significant health issue with serious consequences of diagnostic error. Hence, there is a need for more reliable confirmatory diagnostics. Areas covered: Here, we summarize the major limitations of conventional tests using native extracts and describe how piecing together the IgE reactivity profile can benefit correct diagnosis in difficult cases in whom conventional tests yield equivocal or negative results. A diagnostic algorithm integrating traditional sIgE and component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) is presented. Expert opinion: Moreover, it is clear that the discoveries in the field of the Hevea latex proteome will contribute to our understandings and accurate approach of sometimes complex cross-reactivity phenomena that extend beyond the 'latex-fruit syndrome.'