Whereas glove-associated irritation and type IV hypersensitivity
have been reported since the 1930s, only sporadic
reports of type I were noted through 1986.4,5
Currently, the increased frequency of reported incidences
of type I immediate hypersensitivity associated with latex
proteins has spawned an interest in the development of
synthetic alternatives that exhibit barrier protection
comparable to latex but without the accompanying latex
proteins associated with type I hypersensitivity