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Allergen Encyclopedia
Table of Contents

Whole Allergen

k78 Ethylene oxide

k78 Ethylene oxide Scientific Information

Type:

Whole Allergen

Display Name:

Ethylene oxide

Allergen code:

k78

Other Names:

Ethylene oxide

WHO/ICD-11 code:

XM4G15

(ICD-11 is currently under implementation by WHO and the ICD-11 codes displayed in the encyclopedia may not yet be available in all countries)

Route of Exposure

Occupational

Ethylene oxide is commonly used industrially for sterilization of heat sensitive medical devices.

Unexpected exposure
Patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis and those exposed to tubings, syringes and other material sterilized with ethylene oxide.

Environment exposure
Any workplace where ethylene oxide is used in significant amounts. Certain medical wards

Clinical Relevance

IgE-mediated reactions

Severe allergic symptoms rhinitis, asthma, chest oppression, and urticaria and even anaphylaxis triggered by IgE antibodies to ethylene oxide (1-2) have been reported (3-4). IgE-mediated anaphylaxis mediated by ethylene oxide has been published in patients regularly undergoing haemodialysis and approximately 10% of such patients have been found to have IgE antibodies to ethylene oxide (5-6)

Compiled By

Last Reviewed-  April 2022

References
  1. Dolovich J, Bell B : Allergy to a product(s) of ethylene oxide gas, demonstration of IgE and IgG antibodies and hapten specificity. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1978, 62, 30-32.
  2. Wass U, Belin L, Delin K: Longitudinal study of specific IgE and IgG antibodies in a patient sensitized to ethylene oxide through dialysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1988, 82, 679-85.
  3. Nicholls AJ, Platts MM: Anaphylactoid reactions due to haemodialysis, haemofiltration, or membrane plasma separation. BMJ 1982, 285, 1607.
  4. Poothullil J, Shimizu A, Day RP, Dolovich J: Anaphylaxis from the product(s) of ethylene oxide gas. Ann Intern Med 1975, 82, 58-60.
  5. Marshall C, Pearson F, Shimizu A, Smith EKM, Dolovich J: Sensitization to ethylene oxide in hemodialysis patients. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1984, 73, 164.
  6. Marshall CP, Pearson FC, Sagona MA, Lee W, Wathen RL, Ward RA, Dolovich J: Reactions during hemodialysis caused by allergy to ethylene oxide gas sterilization. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1985, 75, 563-567.