Alpha-gal syndrome: A review for the dermatologist

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergy to “red meat” and other mammalian products due to immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against the sugar moiety galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), which is acquired following tick bites. Clinically, AGS presents with urticaria, abdominal pain, nausea, and occasionally anaphylaxis, and has wide inter- and intra-personal variability. Because symptom onset is generally delayed by 2 to 6 hours after meat consumption, AGS can be easily confused with other causes of urticaria and anaphylaxis, such as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Clinical review Source Type: research