The issue with xenograft surgery has been resolved by using knock-out pigs lacking the alpha-gal epitope. 11 Additional medications, inactive ingredients, and procedures are also known to contain or utilize the alpha-gal epitope such as: Cetuximab, a chimeric mouse-human IgG1 monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor, contains the alpha-gal epitope in its Fab arm portion and has been known to cause the alpha-gal allergy. 9 Animal-derived magnesium stearate is another. Alpha-gal allergy testing is commercially available and requires a serum sample.Īs previously mentioned, many animal by-products may contain the alpha-gal epitope. A comprehensive list of medications containing alpha-gal or animal by-products is unavailable at this time. To prevent anaphylaxis, affected patients should avoid any medication, supplements, foods, etc that may contain the alpha-gal epitope this is their only treatment option. The highest infestations of lone star ticks occur in the eastern states.
Individuals bitten by lone star ticks can develop IgE antibodies to alpha-gal. 5,6Įxperts estimates that thousands of Americans have the alpha-gal allergy, 7 with a causal relationship between lone star tick bites and these anaphylactic reactions. 5 Research suggests that exposure to the alpha-gal epitope in a tick bite may cause normal anti-gal antibody formation to switch from IgG2 to the IgE involved in the delayed anaphylaxis response to the specific types of mammalian meat previously mentioned. 4 Patients with blood group B or AB have fewer anti-gal antibodies and therefore may be less likely to develop the mammalian meat allergy (or develop a milder reaction). Humans produce IgG2 anti-gal naturally, which protects them against normal bacteria flora in the gut that produces the alpha-gal epitope. Other mammals, like new world monkeys, placental mammals, marsupials, and prosimians, however, produce alpha-gal and the enzyme. Humans do not naturally produce alpha-gal epitopes, as the alpha-1,3-glycosyltransferase enzyme is inactivated in humans, old world monkeys, and apes. 3 The severity of the allergy and the allergy itself may recede over time. The alpha-gal allergy affects both children and adults.
#ALPHA GAL ALLERGY SKIN#
However, patients with the alpha-gal allergy have shown positive skin and blood tests to cat IgA. 2 Whereas the alpha-gal epitope is also present in cat IgA, a monoclonal antibody found in cat dander, cat exposure has not been associated with allergic reactions. Animal by-products derived from turkey, chicken, and fish, however, do not. Many animal by-products may contain the alpha-gal epitope. Individuals with high IgE titers to alpha-gal have experienced urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis symptoms 3 to 6 hours after ingesting mammalian meat (beef, pork, lamb, venison, goat, and bison), which is rich in alpha-gal.
First described in 2009, the alpha-gal allergy (red meat or mammalian allergy) is a novel form of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis unlike most anaphylaxis, this reaction is delayed. What Is Alpha-gal and Mammalian Meat Allergy?Īlpha-gal (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose), a mammalian oligosaccharide, has recently been implicated in delayed anaphylaxis reactions to mammalian meat.
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