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Alpha-gal allergy

MedGen UID:
737992
•Concept ID:
C1630645
•
Pathologic Function
Synonyms: a-gal allergy; a-gal syndrome; alpha-gal allergy; alpha-gal syndrome; galactose-a-1,3-galactose allergy; galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose allergy; galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose sensitization; mammalian meat allergy; red meat allergy
SNOMED CT: Allergy to red meat (418815008)
 
HPO: HP:0410319

Definition

Hypersensitivity in form of an adverse immune reaction against alpha-gal. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVAlpha-gal allergy

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Idiopathic anaphylaxis: Diagnosis and management.
Burrows AG, Ellis AK
Allergy Asthma Proc 2021 Nov 1;42(6):481-488. doi: 10.2500/aap.2021.42.210081. PMID: 34871155
Diagnosis & management of alpha-gal syndrome: lessons from 2,500 patients.
Commins SP
Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2020 Jul;16(7):667-677. Epub 2020 Jul 8 doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2020.1782745. PMID: 32571129Free PMC Article
Ingestion of mammalian meat and alpha-gal allergy: Clinical relevance in primary care.
Mabelane T, Ogunbanjo GA
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2019 Apr 29;11(1):e1-e5. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.1901. PMID: 31038347Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Delayed anaphylaxis due to Alpha-gal allergy: A modified desensitization protocol with red meat in an adult patient.
Tepetam FM, Yegin Katran Z, Bayraktar Barın R, Çakmak Uğurlu B
Tuberk Toraks 2023 Sep;71(3):318-324. doi: 10.5578/tt.20239714. PMID: 37740636Free PMC Article
Oral immunotherapy in alpha-gal red meat allergy: Could specific IgE be a potential biomarker in monitoring management?
Ünal D, Eyice-Karabacak D, Kutlu A, Demir S, Tüzer C, Arslan AF, Işık SR, Gelincik A
Allergy 2023 Dec;78(12):3241-3251. Epub 2023 Aug 7 doi: 10.1111/all.15840. PMID: 37545316
Alpha-Gal Allergy as a Cause of Intestinal Symptoms in a Gastroenterology Community Practice.
Richards NE, Richards RD Jr
South Med J 2021 Mar;114(3):169-173. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001223. PMID: 33655311
Galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) allergy: first pediatric case in a series of patients in Spain.
Martín-Lázaro J, Núñez-Orjales R, González-Guzmán LA, González MT, Boquete M, Carballada F
Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2020 May-Jun;48(3):251-258. Epub 2019 Nov 11 doi: 10.1016/j.aller.2019.07.004. PMID: 31718865
Food Allergy in South Africa.
Gray CL
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2017 Jun;17(6):35. doi: 10.1007/s11882-017-0703-4. PMID: 28470372

Diagnosis

Idiopathic anaphylaxis: Diagnosis and management.
Burrows AG, Ellis AK
Allergy Asthma Proc 2021 Nov 1;42(6):481-488. doi: 10.2500/aap.2021.42.210081. PMID: 34871155
IgE-mediated food allergy throughout life.
Çelebioğlu E, Akarsu A, Şahiner ÜM
Turk J Med Sci 2021 Feb 26;51(1):49-60. doi: 10.3906/sag-2006-95. PMID: 32892543Free PMC Article
Diagnosis & management of alpha-gal syndrome: lessons from 2,500 patients.
Commins SP
Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2020 Jul;16(7):667-677. Epub 2020 Jul 8 doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2020.1782745. PMID: 32571129Free PMC Article
Ingestion of mammalian meat and alpha-gal allergy: Clinical relevance in primary care.
Mabelane T, Ogunbanjo GA
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2019 Apr 29;11(1):e1-e5. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.1901. PMID: 31038347Free PMC Article
α-Gal Syndrome vs Chronic Urticaria.
Pollack K, Zlotoff BJ, Borish LC, Commins SP, Platts-Mills TAE, Wilson JM
JAMA Dermatol 2019 Jan 1;155(1):115-116. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3970. PMID: 30476954Free PMC Article

Therapy

Anaphylaxis triggered by alpha-gal allergy.
Rørvik SD, Alnæs MB, Vikenes BC, Kristiansen T
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2024 Jun 25;144(8) Epub 2024 Jun 5 doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0122. PMID: 38934309
Delayed anaphylaxis due to Alpha-gal allergy: A modified desensitization protocol with red meat in an adult patient.
Tepetam FM, Yegin Katran Z, Bayraktar Barın R, Çakmak Uğurlu B
Tuberk Toraks 2023 Sep;71(3):318-324. doi: 10.5578/tt.20239714. PMID: 37740636Free PMC Article
Ingestion of mammalian meat and alpha-gal allergy: Clinical relevance in primary care.
Mabelane T, Ogunbanjo GA
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2019 Apr 29;11(1):e1-e5. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.1901. PMID: 31038347Free PMC Article
α-Gal Syndrome vs Chronic Urticaria.
Pollack K, Zlotoff BJ, Borish LC, Commins SP, Platts-Mills TAE, Wilson JM
JAMA Dermatol 2019 Jan 1;155(1):115-116. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3970. PMID: 30476954Free PMC Article
Invited Commentary: Alpha-Gal Allergy: Tip of the Iceberg to a Pivotal Immune Response.
Commins SP
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2016 Sep;16(9):61. doi: 10.1007/s11882-016-0641-6. PMID: 27520937

Prognosis

IgE-mediated food allergy throughout life.
Çelebioğlu E, Akarsu A, Şahiner ÜM
Turk J Med Sci 2021 Feb 26;51(1):49-60. doi: 10.3906/sag-2006-95. PMID: 32892543Free PMC Article
Predictive values of alpha-gal IgE levels and alpha-gal IgE: Total IgE ratio and oral food challenge-proven meat allergy in a population with a high prevalence of reported red meat allergy.
Mabelane T, Basera W, Botha M, Thomas HF, Ramjith J, Levin ME
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2018 Dec;29(8):841-849. Epub 2018 Sep 28 doi: 10.1111/pai.12969. PMID: 30144162
Food Allergy in South Africa.
Gray CL
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2017 Jun;17(6):35. doi: 10.1007/s11882-017-0703-4. PMID: 28470372
Acute hypersensitivity reaction to Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (CroFab) as initial presentation of galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) allergy.
Rizer J, Brill K, Charlton N, King J
Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2017 Aug;55(7):668-669. Epub 2017 Apr 26 doi: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1313981. PMID: 28443380

Clinical prediction guides

Gastrointestinal-isolated Distress is Common in Alpha-gal Allergic Patients on Mammalian Meat Challenge.
McGill SK, Levin ME, Shaheen NJ, Cotton CC, Platts-Mills TA, Commins SP
J Clin Gastroenterol 2024 Jan 1;58(1):80-84. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001827. PMID: 36728603Free PMC Article
Delayed anaphylaxis due to Alpha-gal allergy: A modified desensitization protocol with red meat in an adult patient.
Tepetam FM, Yegin Katran Z, Bayraktar Barın R, Çakmak Uğurlu B
Tuberk Toraks 2023 Sep;71(3):318-324. doi: 10.5578/tt.20239714. PMID: 37740636Free PMC Article
Predictive values of alpha-gal IgE levels and alpha-gal IgE: Total IgE ratio and oral food challenge-proven meat allergy in a population with a high prevalence of reported red meat allergy.
Mabelane T, Basera W, Botha M, Thomas HF, Ramjith J, Levin ME
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2018 Dec;29(8):841-849. Epub 2018 Sep 28 doi: 10.1111/pai.12969. PMID: 30144162
Food Allergy in South Africa.
Gray CL
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2017 Jun;17(6):35. doi: 10.1007/s11882-017-0703-4. PMID: 28470372
Acute hypersensitivity reaction to Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (CroFab) as initial presentation of galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) allergy.
Rizer J, Brill K, Charlton N, King J
Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2017 Aug;55(7):668-669. Epub 2017 Apr 26 doi: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1313981. PMID: 28443380

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