title: [The alpha-gal syndrome: an allergic reaction to mammalian meat secondary to a tick bite].
abstract: Here we present the case of a 68-year-old patient with alpha-gal syndrome. This is a delayed-onset allergic reaction, characteristically occurring 2-6 hours after ingestion of mammalian meat products. The reaction occurs because the patient has developed IgE antibodies to a mammalian oligosaccharide epitope, galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal); tick bites induce this IgE antibody response. Presentation varies from chronic urticaria to life-threatening anaphylaxis. The alpha-gal syndrome is usually self-limiting as long as there are no new tick bites. Clinicians should be aware of this syndrome, which is often not recognized as such.
authors.affiliation: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen/Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, onderafdeling Allergologie, Groningen.
authors.forename: A M A
authors.initials: AMA
authors.lastname: Berends
authors.forename: J N G
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Oude Elberink
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004187:Disaccharides; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005690:Galactose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D008460:Meat; D064927:Tick Bites
chemical_list: D004187:Disaccharides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005690:Galactose