Alpha-galactose allergy: Difference between revisions

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m (Pyrrhus moved page Alpha-gal allergy to Alpha-galactose allergy: use full name for page title, leaving a redirect from the shortened name)
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'''Alpha-galactose allergy''' or '''alpha-gal allergy''' or '''alpha-gal syndrome''', also known as '''meat allergy''' or '''mammalian meat allergy (MMA)''' is a reaction to the carbohydrate, galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hilger|first=Christiane|last2=Fischer|first2=Jörg|last3=Wölbing|first3=Florian|last4=Biedermann|first4=Tilo|date=2019|title=Role and Mechanism of Galactose-Alpha-1,3-Galactose in the Elicitation of Delayed Anaphylactic Reactions to Red Meat|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6344609/|journal=Current Allergy and Asthma Reports|volume=19|issue=1|doi=10.1007/s11882-019-0835-9|issn=1529-7322|pmc=6344609|pmid=30673913}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emjreviews.com/allergy-immunology/article/the-oligosaccharide-galactose-%ce%b1-13-galactose-and-the-%ce%b1-gal-syndrome-insights-from-an-epitope-that-is-causal-in-immunoglobulin-e-mediated-immediate-and-delayed-anaphylaxis/|title=The Oligosaccharide Galactose-α-1,3-Galactose and the α-Gal Syndrome: Insights from an Epitope that is Causal in Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Immediate and Delayed Anaphylaxis|date=2018-07-17|website=European Medical Journal|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> The body is overloaded with [[immunoglobulin E]] (IGE) or contact with the meat-derived carbohydrate.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Commins|first=Scott P.|last2=Platts-Mills|first2=Thomas A. E.|date=Feb 2013|title=Delayed Anaphylaxis to Red Meat in Patients with IgE Specific for Galactose alpha-1,3-Galactose (alpha-gal)|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3545071/|journal=Current allergy and asthma reports|volume=13|issue=1|pages=72–77|doi=10.1007/s11882-012-0315-y|issn=1529-7322|pmc=3545071|pmid=23054628}}</ref>   
'''Alpha-galactose allergy''' (also known as '''alpha-gal allergy''', '''alpha-gal syndrome''', or '''mammalian meat allergy (MMA)''') is a reaction to the carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hilger|first=Christiane|last2=Fischer|first2=Jörg|last3=Wölbing|first3=Florian|last4=Biedermann|first4=Tilo|date=2019|title=Role and Mechanism of Galactose-Alpha-1,3-Galactose in the Elicitation of Delayed Anaphylactic Reactions to Red Meat|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6344609/|journal=Current Allergy and Asthma Reports|volume=19|issue=1|doi=10.1007/s11882-019-0835-9|issn=1529-7322|pmc=6344609|pmid=30673913}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emjreviews.com/allergy-immunology/article/the-oligosaccharide-galactose-%ce%b1-13-galactose-and-the-%ce%b1-gal-syndrome-insights-from-an-epitope-that-is-causal-in-immunoglobulin-e-mediated-immediate-and-delayed-anaphylaxis/|title=The Oligosaccharide Galactose-α-1,3-Galactose and the α-Gal Syndrome: Insights from an Epitope that is Causal in Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Immediate and Delayed Anaphylaxis|date=2018-07-17|website=European Medical Journal|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> In alpha-galactose allergy, the body experiences a sharp increase in [[immunoglobulin E]] (IgE) upon contact with the meat-derived carbohydrate.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Commins|first=Scott P.|last2=Platts-Mills|first2=Thomas A. E.|date=Feb 2013|title=Delayed Anaphylaxis to Red Meat in Patients with IgE Specific for Galactose alpha-1,3-Galactose (alpha-gal)|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3545071/|journal=Current allergy and asthma reports|volume=13|issue=1|pages=72–77|doi=10.1007/s11882-012-0315-y|issn=1529-7322|pmc=3545071|pmid=23054628}}</ref>   


The alpha-gal molecule is found in all mammals except apes, humans, and Old World monkeys.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Galili|first=Uri|date=1993-09-01|title=Evolution and pathophysiology of the human natural anti-α-galactosyl IgG (anti-Gal) antibody|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00201098|journal=Springer Seminars in Immunopathology|language=en|volume=15|issue=2|pages=155–171|doi=10.1007/BF00201098|issn=1432-2196}}</ref> This [[allergy]] most often begins when a Lone Star tick bite transmits a molecule called alpha-gal into the body. In some people, an [[immune system]] reaction may later produce mild to severe [[Allergy|allergic reactions]] when red meat is eaten.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20428608|title=Alpha-gal syndrome - Symptoms and causes|website=Mayo Clinic|language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>
The alpha-gal molecule is found in all mammals except apes, humans, and Old World monkeys.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Galili|first=Uri|date=1993-09-01|title=Evolution and pathophysiology of the human natural anti-α-galactosyl IgG (anti-Gal) antibody|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00201098|journal=Springer Seminars in Immunopathology|language=en|volume=15|issue=2|pages=155–171|doi=10.1007/BF00201098|issn=1432-2196}}</ref> Since humans do not naturally produce this carbohydrate, humans do not have an pre-existing immune tolerance to the carbohydrate.  The [[allergy]] most often begins when a Lone Star tick bite transmits alpha-gal into the body. In some people, an [[immune system]] reaction may later produce mild to severe [[Allergy|allergic reactions]] when red meat is eaten.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20428608|title=Alpha-gal syndrome - Symptoms and causes|website=Mayo Clinic|language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>


The cancer drug, cetuximab (trade name, Erbitux), can cause a reaction in people who live in regions with a high population of Lone Star ticks suggestion a possible link between between Lone Star tick bites and an increased vulnerability to alpha-gal syndrome.<ref name=":0" />
The cancer drug cetuximab (trade name Erbitux) contains the alpha-gal carbohydrate, since it is manufactured from mice.  Cetuximab can cause a reaction in people who live in regions with a high population of Lone Star ticks, suggesting a link between Lone Star tick bites and an increased vulnerability to alpha-gal syndrome.<ref name=":0" />


== Treatment ==
== Treatment ==
There is no treatment other than not eating red meat.<ref name=":0" />
There is no treatment, other than not eating red meat.<ref name=":0" />


== Symptoms ==
== Symptoms ==

Revision as of 02:14, December 9, 2019

Alpha-galactose allergy (also known as alpha-gal allergy, alpha-gal syndrome, or mammalian meat allergy (MMA)) is a reaction to the carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal).[1][2] In alpha-galactose allergy, the body experiences a sharp increase in immunoglobulin E (IgE) upon contact with the meat-derived carbohydrate.[3]

The alpha-gal molecule is found in all mammals except apes, humans, and Old World monkeys.[4] Since humans do not naturally produce this carbohydrate, humans do not have an pre-existing immune tolerance to the carbohydrate. The allergy most often begins when a Lone Star tick bite transmits alpha-gal into the body. In some people, an immune system reaction may later produce mild to severe allergic reactions when red meat is eaten.[5]

The cancer drug cetuximab (trade name Erbitux) contains the alpha-gal carbohydrate, since it is manufactured from mice. Cetuximab can cause a reaction in people who live in regions with a high population of Lone Star ticks, suggesting a link between Lone Star tick bites and an increased vulnerability to alpha-gal syndrome.[5]

Treatment

There is no treatment, other than not eating red meat.[5]

Symptoms

See also

Learn more

References

  1. Hilger, Christiane; Fischer, Jörg; Wölbing, Florian; Biedermann, Tilo (2019). "Role and Mechanism of Galactose-Alpha-1,3-Galactose in the Elicitation of Delayed Anaphylactic Reactions to Red Meat". Current Allergy and Asthma Reports. 19 (1). doi:10.1007/s11882-019-0835-9. ISSN 1529-7322. PMC 6344609. PMID 30673913.
  2. "The Oligosaccharide Galactose-α-1,3-Galactose and the α-Gal Syndrome: Insights from an Epitope that is Causal in Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Immediate and Delayed Anaphylaxis". European Medical Journal. July 17, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  3. Commins, Scott P.; Platts-Mills, Thomas A. E. (February 2013). "Delayed Anaphylaxis to Red Meat in Patients with IgE Specific for Galactose alpha-1,3-Galactose (alpha-gal)". Current allergy and asthma reports. 13 (1): 72–77. doi:10.1007/s11882-012-0315-y. ISSN 1529-7322. PMC 3545071. PMID 23054628.
  4. Galili, Uri (September 1, 1993). "Evolution and pathophysiology of the human natural anti-α-galactosyl IgG (anti-Gal) antibody". Springer Seminars in Immunopathology. 15 (2): 155–171. doi:10.1007/BF00201098. ISSN 1432-2196.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Alpha-gal syndrome - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  6. "Omalizumab". Reactions Weekly. 1740 (1): 254–254. February 2019. doi:10.1007/s40278-019-58147-3. ISSN 0114-9954.