Delayed anaphylaxis, angioedema, or urticaria after consumption of red meat in patients with IgE antibodies specific for galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose.
Commins SP, Satinover SM, Hosen J, Mozena J, Borish L, Lewis BD, Woodfolk JA, Platts-Mills TA.
Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Carbohydrate moieties are frequently encountered in food and can elicit IgE responses, the clinical significance of which has been unclear. Recent work, however, has shown that IgE antibodies to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), a carbohydrate commonly expressed on nonprimate mammalian proteins, are capable of eliciting serious, even fatal, reactions.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether IgE antibodies to alpha-gal are present in sera from patients who report anaphylaxis or urticaria after eating beef, pork, or lamb.
METHODS: Detailed histories were taken from patients presenting to the University of Virginia Allergy Clinic. Skin prick tests (SPTs), intradermal skin tests, and serum IgE antibody analysis were performed for common indoor, outdoor, and food allergens.
RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with IgE antibodies to alpha-gal were identified. These patients described a similar history of anaphylaxis or urticaria 3 to 6 hours after the ingestion of meat and reported fewer or no episodes when following an avoidance diet.
SPTs to mammalian meat produced wheals of usually less than 4 mm, whereas intradermal or fresh-food SPTs provided larger and more consistent wheal responses.
CAP-RAST testing revealed specific IgE antibodies to beef, pork, lamb, cow's milk, cat, and dog but not turkey, chicken, or fish.
Absorption experiments indicated that this pattern of sensitivity was explained by an IgE antibody specific for alpha-gal.
CONCLUSION: We report a novel and severe food allergy related to IgE antibodies to the carbohydrate epitope alpha-gal.
These patients experience delayed symptoms of anaphylaxis, angioedema, or urticaria associated with eating beef, pork, or lamb.
PMID: 19070355 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Interesting. I was bitten by the lone star tick and now I cannot eat red meat. I get sick every time I eat it. I'll have to check out the above porphyria link too.
Posts: 618 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
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Joe
Posts: 249 | From Northern NJ | Registered: Jul 2005
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Sometimes this stuff makes so much sense to me (my 11 yr exp). Other days not so much???? I've been puzzled for years why steak (which I love) started effecting me so badly.
My 2nd known tick attack happened in 05. I'm pretty positve I know Lone Star nymphs when I see them.
So began the GI issues. I belive that was the onset of bart overload????
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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