Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
- Cited by SciELO
- Access statistics
Related links
- Similars in SciELO
Share
Revista Portuguesa de Imunoalergologia
Print version ISSN 0871-9721
Abstract
VIEIRA, Josefina; PESTANA, Letícia and CAMARA, Rita. Allergy to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) - A case report. Rev Port Imunoalergologia [online]. 2023, vol.31, n.4, pp.281-285. Epub Dec 30, 2023. ISSN 0871-9721. https://doi.org/10.32932/rpia.2023.12.126.
Introduction:
Meat allergy represents 3-15% of food allergies in paediatrics and 3% in adults. Galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) is an allergen present in non-primate mammals’ meat, responsible for crossed reactions with cetuximab and gelatine.
Case description:
62-year-old male patient was sent to an Immunoallergology outpatient clinic for acetylsalicylic acid desensitization. He reported reproducible anaphylactic reactions beginning 3 hours after red meat ingestion. Currently, the patient strictly avoids red meat. The investigation confirmed sensitization to red meat and α-gal.
Discussion/Conclusions:
α-gal allergy presents some uncommon characteristics: the trigger (oligosaccharide), IgE-mediated reaction with late-onset, and the association with previous tick bites, responsible for primary sensitization. Patients must avoid red meat and tick bites and have an emergency plan with an adrenalin auto-injector.
Keywords : α-gal; allergy; anaphylaxis; IgE-mediated; meat.