Alpha-gal syndrome: allergy to red meat

Abstract

Meat allergies are increasingly present, both in children and in adults, and are a group of heterogeneous allergic reactions with different syndromes. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), also known as α-gal allergy or mammalian meat allergy (MMA) is a type of acquired allergy characterized by a delayed onset of symptoms (3–8 hours) after consumption of mammalian meat. It is a reaction to the carbohydrate, galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal), where the body is overwhelmed with immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies when exposed to the carbohydrate. In most cases, it is the result of previous exposure to certain tick bites and was first reported in 2002. Allergy symptoms vary greatly from person to person and include rash, hives, nausea or vomiting, difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure, dizziness or fainting, diarrhoea, severe stomach pain and possible anaphylaxis.