Awareness of Alpha-Gal Allergy Among Dermatologic Surgeons

Dermatologic Surgery

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• Alpha-gal syndrome or mammalian meat allergy presents with anaphylaxis or urticaria after eating beef, pork, or lamb. Individuals with IgE antibodies to alpha-gal may also react to medications containing gelatin, glycerin, and numerous other products. After treating a patient with alpha-gal syndrome, the authors investigated products in dermatologic surgery that should be avoided in these patients.

• In patients with alpha-gal syndrome, the following should be avoided due to potential risk of anaphylaxis: prescribing medications dispensed in capsules, gut suture, Gelfoam, and xenografts.

–  Katherine M. Stiff, MD

Abstract

Alpha-gal syndrome, also known as mammalian meat allergy (MMA), was first described by Commins and colleagues in 2009. They presented 24 patients with anaphylaxis or urticaria after eating beef, pork, or lamb who demonstrated the presence of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to galactose-a-1,3-galactose (a-gal), an oligo- saccharide. This carbohydrate is not inherently present in humans or primates, and exposure and sensitization have been linked to species-specific ticks in the United States and Australia. Higher incidences of alpha-gal syndrome were reported in a similar geographic distribution as Amblyomma Americanum, also known as the lone star tick, the southeastern United States. Therefore, geographic implications for this allergen exist with about 20% of the population of TN, NC, and Virginia, demonstrating serum IgE antibodies to alpha-gal.

Dermatologic Surgery

Alpha-Gal (Mammalian Meat) Allergy: Implications for Dermatologic Surgeons

Dermatol Surg 2022 Feb 08;[EPub Ahead of Print], K Raji, M Baucom 

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Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock
Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

Clinica Victoria en San Pedro: 4000-1054
Momentum Escazu: 2101-9574

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